Family Group Decision Making in Blair County

1. Family Group Decision Making in Blair County April 22, 2014

2. History of Model Values & Beliefs How is FGDM different? BARJ Principles Why it Works Meeting Steps Strength versus Deficit Practice FGDM and the prevention of placement and strengthening families How FGDM and Juvenile Probation work together FGDM and the child in placement More Information Today’s Agenda:

3. Purpose of FGDM: • To establish a process for families to join with relatives and friends to develop a plan to ensure that children are cared for and protected from future harm in ways which fit their culture and situation.

4. Purpose of FGDM: • To ensure that juvenile offenders are accountable for their actions, responsible to ensure that future protection to the community is upheld and to develop competencies so that the harm done may be repaired with the victim and the community.

5. Purpose of FGDM (cont): • It extends the responsibility for youth safety, well-being, permanence and community safety to families, communities and natural support systems.

6. Purpose of FGDM: • To encompass the Restorative Justice Philosophy and its concepts of BARJ giving equal attention to the offender, victim and the community.

7. History of FGDM IN Blair County • Originated in New Zealand • Excessive amounts of Maori children placed in non-relative and government institutions • First training with Jim Nice was in May 2005

8. Why FGDM? • Cross-system initiative • Philosophical shift from deficits to strengths • Enhancement of family/community involvement • Fits the cultural/ethnic diversity found in PA • Helps us partner with community to implement the BARJ principles • Philosophical shift rather than JUST a program

9. Values & Beliefs: • Families have strengths and can change. • Strengths are what ultimately resolve concerns. • Strengths are identified through listening, noticing and paying attention to people. • Strengths are enhanced when they are acknowledged and encouraged.

10. Values & Beliefs (cont.): • People gain a sense of hope when they feel someone has really listened to them. • Options are preferable to advice. • Empowering people is preferable to controlling them. • A consultant is better than a boss.

11. FGDM Can Be Utilized When: • A Juvenile has admitted to the offense or been found guilty of the offense • A Juvenile is at the Court/Intake level • A Juvenile is under supervision • A Juvenile is returning from placement • Prevention of further family involvement in the Juvenile System

12. BARJ: Youth should leave JJ more capable, responsible & productive BARJ: Community Protection – right to feel safe & secure Real Justice BARJ Connection FGDM Restorative Justice He a l if n g Ha r m FGDM: Focus is on restoring the community’s feeling of trust & Safety (Community) FGDM: Focus is on repairing the harm (VICTIM) Accountability FGDM: Focus is on having the youth be responsible for behavior and plan for correction BARJ: Juvenile obligation to victim and community (Offender)

13. BARJ & FGDM: • Accountability Families place expectations of the juvenile and ensure reparations are made and restitution is paid. CSP is completed and victims may participate in the FGDM.

14. FGDM Benefits Victims by: ♥ Increasing safety for family members ♥ Bringing greater clarity and value to the voice and concerns of victims ♥ Increasing community involvement in resolution ♥ Providing a safe healing opportunity for victims

15. BARJ & FGDM: • Community Protection Families devise a plan for appropriate supervision and structure, while taking ownership.

16. BARJ & FGDM: • Competency Development Families identify issues and skills that need enhanced for successful changes to take place.

17. Timing of FGDM: Youth commits offense ↓ Youth charged by police & charges sent to Juvenile Probation Office ↓ Intake ↓ Family Group Conference and/or Court ↓ ↓ Probation Placement ↓ Family Group Conference

18. Strength based Inclusive Encourages family Honest/open Team effort Creative Culturally Sensitive Individualized Deficit based Restrictive Gives advice Secretive Individual effort Controlling Insensitive Cookie-cutter Strength Versus Deficit Practice:

19. Why FGDM Works: • People are actively valued “The conference helps make the kids aware that their families are concerned.” Dauphin County Mother

20. Why FGDM Works: • Worker is no longer problem finder/advice giver • “You can achieve a whole lot and find out things that you didn’t know before.” Dauphin County Grandmother

21. Why FGDM Works: • Communicates in a language of “concerns” • Strengthens families by harnessing their commitment, wisdom and responsibility to protect children and ensure well-being

22. In 2012 Juveniles were involved in: • One out of 10 arrests for murder • One in 4 arrests for Robbery, Burglary, Larceny-Theft and Disorderly Conduct • One in 5 arrests for Motor Vehicle Theft A higher percentage of Juveniles are involved in minor criminal behavior including, Vandalism, Shoplifting, Underage Drinking, and the use of Marijuana

23. Somewhere between 30 and 40 percent of all boys growing up in an urbanized area in the United States will be arrested before their 18th birthday

24. Changing Families • Today 24 million children are living in fatherless homes • More families consist of one parent households or two working parents which means less supervision at home • Lack of parental supervision is thought to be an influence on juvenile crime rate • A parent who is involved in the criminal system could greatly influence their own child's views on delinquent behavior

25. Why FGDM Works (cont.): • Counters isolation of at-risk families • Better informed plans because of family knowledge and expertise about themselves • Enhances family’s feelings of security, belonging, respect, and understanding • Simple and easy to understand

26. Why FGDM Works (cont.): • Encourages collaboration between service providers working with the family • Provides a “similar” language between family and agencies and among service providers from different agencies

27. Why FGDM Works (cont.): • Decreases burden on service providers and balances power • Creates an opportunity for families to realize their potential in caring for their youth • Increases investment and ownership of decisions

28. Steps of the Model • Referral to hold FGDM meeting • Planning and Preparation for meeting

29. Steps of the Model (cont.) • Actual Meeting: • Introductions • Purpose defined • History provided • Family tradition/Elder’s Report • Identification of strengths • Identification of concerns • Additional resource options provided

30. Steps of the Model (cont.) • Actual Meeting (cont.): • Share a meal • Family private time/ development of plan • Presentation of plan to the probation officer • Approval of plan by referring JPO • Family tradition

31. Steps of the Model (cont.) • Presentation of Plan to Court • Carrying out the Plan • Additional Meetings

32. “The more eyes, hands, and hearts involved with a family, the safer the child (and community).” - Larry Graber

33. Comments From the Bench: • What benefits does the Court see with FGDM? • Why might a Court be interested in being involved in the implementation process? • What thoughts might you want to consider in process to involve Courts?

34. “This isn’t just what we should be doing, it’s what we should have been doing all along.” Honorable Todd Hoover Juvenile Dependency Judge

35. “The strength of Family Group Conferencing is having the family join in achieving a common goal. This is a meaningful and worthwhile process.” Honorable Richard Lewis Dauphin County Delinquency Judge

36. When you help the family, you always help the child. The powerful and innate pull to family (regardless of that family’s level of dysfunction) never ends. FGDM helps to reconcile that “pull” with a chance for that family to possibly develop a healthy template for identifying and solving the problems that will keep coming in life, like we all experience. If we see or feel resistance to FGDM we must step back and honestly ask ourselves, do we fear giving up our power? Honorable Jolene Grubb Kopriva President Judge, Blair County

37. Reactions & Questions? • Thank You for Your Interest and Investment in the Lives of Children, Youth, Families and Communities !!

38. For More Information A Partnership with: Kids Peace 814-693-7708 Professional Family Care Services 814-255-9559 ext 100 Blair County Juvenile Probation 814-693-3230 Blair County Children, Youth and Families 814-693-3130