Family Conferencing:
A
team decision making program for
families (by blood or by choice) who are:
At
a crisis point
A turning point
A life-changing decision point
such as:
-
Families
with children at high risk of incarceration;
-
Families
with children with emotional and behavioral disorders;
-
Families
with children returning home from residential
treatment;
-
Families whose children are at risk of school
failure due to behavioral, emotional or learning
disorders;
-
Vulnerable
seniors who need extra support to remain in their
homes or with a family member;
-
Families
with a member facing debilitating or catastrophic
illness;
The
Four Cornerstones of Family Network Conferencing
One:
Orientation and Preparation
Family
Network’s success depends in large part upon
all participants coming to the initial, and subsequent,
meetings fully prepared to participate within the
Family Network structure and guidelines.
Participants are trained in advance to be a member
of a participative decision making team and are
offered coaching and consultation throughout the
process, should they need further assistance in
working with their group.
Two:
Principles and Practices
Family
Network is a values-driven program. A "Guidelines" sheet
is presented to all participants and posted at all meetings
that states the principles and the practices associated with
them.
Three:
The Meeting Structure
Family
Network team meetings are structured to ensure that
families and their teams have the right conversations
and are able to break out-of-the box when it comes
to solving problems creatively. The agendas allow
specific time for discussion, decision making and
measuring progress within the allotted time frame.
We base our meeting lengths on the needs of your
team and on what management science tells us about
how long a group can be together and work effectively.
Four:
The Facilitator
Family
Network Facilitators are specially trained experts
in leading decision making groups. The role of the
Facilitator is to help your group come together,
do its best thinking, be creative in its problem-solving
and have the kinds of conversations that lead to
solutions and yield results. We hope that working
with a Family Network Facilitator gives you an experience
that is unlike other meetings or conversations that
you have had.
What
does it involve?
- A
team of family members, friends and service providers you select;
- Coordination
of all your service providers (therapists, mentors, tutors,
etc.);
- Consultation
and coaching for team members between meetings
- Specially
facilitated team meetings;
- Plans
that are based on your preferences, strengths, needs and priorities.
- A
"Network of Accountability;" we help you
and your team measure your results
Anyone
can be on your Family Network team.
You pick your own team!
