Require Family Involvement in Decision-Making
Successful case plans for children must include information from both a comprehensive assessment and the engagement of family members. Family meeting approaches are especially effective for families of color. In one study, African American children went home in 33 percent of cases with a team meeting, and Hispanic children in 39 percent of cases, compared to 13-14 percent of cases using traditional services without team meetings. [i]
What Can Policymakers Do?
Mandate the involvement of families on decision-making teams.
The Kansas legislature encouraged the use of Family Group Decision-making (FGDM) in individual cases, required the attendance and participation of certain professionals, and required that all participants be notified of FGDM and the plan resulting from the meeting.
[ii]
[i]
Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. 2006. Family Group Decision-Making: October 2006 Final Evaluation. Available online.
[ii]
Kan. Stat. Ann. ยงยง38-1559