Family Conference Facilitation
from the "Family Network Program Manual for Coordinators and Facilitators"
Your Role and Perspective as Facilitator
Of all the roles in a Family Network Family Conference,yours as Facilitator is most unique. While the other team members are deeply involved with the family’s goals, struggles and actions, you are concerned about one thing only: the integrity and success of the Family Conference itself. You are trained to guide the team through the agenda in ways that help them think together, plan together and approach difficult problems creatively. The only time they ever see you is during the meetings. The only things you worry about are:
• Are all the members participating fully (in whatever
ways are best for them individually)?
• Are the Principles and Practices being adhered to?
• Are they getting through the agenda in the appropriate timeframe?
• Are they being supported to express any conflicting opinions?
•
Are they completing all the sections of their action plan – what, by
whom and by when?
Many of the skills and functions of a Facilitator are similar to those of a manager, a therapist, a mediator or an advocate. Yet you are none of these things. In short:
 What you ARE |
 What you
AREN’T |
Someone who helps the group get through their agenda
in the time they
have allotted |
The person in charge of everyone |
Someone trained to help the group listen and talk
to each other |
Someone to help them gain insight into their feelings
and resolve psychological problems |
Someone who intervenes in the interest of making
the meeting process
work well |
Someone who offers advice to the family and team
about
what to put in their plan |
A person who makes sure the plan is agreed to by
everyone |
Someone
who tries to “sell” the plan to members that don’t really like
it |
Someone who helps the team hold itself accountable |
Someone who personally holds each member accountable |
Someone who teaches new thinking skills |
Someone who offers consultation or referrals for
services |
You are the meeting’s choreographer. Sometimes you’re more like a traffic cop. You are absolutely neutral about the content of the meeting, but you are a knowledgeable and enthusiastic advocate for the process of the meeting.
The Facilitation Training (taken by all our Family Conference Facilitators)
emphasizes the functions of the Family Network Facilitator:
1. Encourage full participation
2. Support mutual understanding
3. Develop inclusive solutions
4. Teach new thinking skills
5. Facilitate the creation of an agreed-upon plan
CFRP's facilitation trainees are provided with a foundation of knowledge which serves to ground them in navigating the most challenging meetings. Related interventions and concepts in the disciplines of group development, participatory decision-making, meeting management and group dynamics are included in the curriculum to provide complimentary tools and perspective.
There are numerous models of family conferencing being utilized around the world, including several iterations in children's welfare and criminal justice domains. While these models have more in common than not, there are some differences in terms of meeting structure, team composition, and specific duties of the Facilitator. These training modules are designed to adapt to any number of program designs and can be modified to meet the particular needs of the program.
Copyright 2006 Center for Restorative Practice. All Rights Reserved.