family group conferencing

Family Group Conferencing is a  voluntary opportunity for youth ages 10-17 who have received a ticket for charges related to a crime, facing suspension or expulsion or have disclosed harm done to themselves, another person or place.  

The youth and supportive adult will attend two (3) hour Family Group Conferencing sessions and a Follow-Up interview as described below. All participants must be present in the Zoom conference for the entire group session. Successful completion is determined by satisfactory performance of the agreement contract and the follow-up meeting.

By participating in a Zoom Family Group Conference, youth can:

• Have an opportunity to have their charges diverted, possibly have a case closed, or lesser consequences imposed.
• Learn about the impact of their decision and how it affects their community, family & themselves.
• Repair the harm done by the incident in a meaningful way.
• Make choices about the consequences for their actions.

Steps to the Referral Process: 

STEP ONE 

Referral form is submitted.  A phone consultation will follow to gain clarity of the conflict. Have client complete a Release of Information form; yours or ours works for us, but we cannot move forward with the referral until we have permission to speak with them. 

STEP TWO 

Contact youth and their supportive adult(s) to explain the process and enroll them into the Family Group Conference. It is important to hear the story of all parties and to determine a willingness to participate voluntarily.  If they are suitable and meet the program criteria the case will be assigned to the next available program session. 

STEP THREE 

Education, share stories and discover impacts. During the Family Group Conference the participants will go over guidelines of the program followed by an educational discussion with facts about the impacts of the offense. The youth will discuss and take responsibility for their part in the harm caused and explore the impacts of their choices. The parents will share their involvement as well as how the youth’s actions have impacted their family. 

STEP FOUR  

Create agreements and sign the contract. Youth will come up with at least five contract  items to complete as part of their agreement. These contract items must be measurable, attainable, reasonable and timely. After the contract items are agreed upon by the group and summarized for each participant. A Follow-Up meeting  will be scheduled to verify completion of their contract agreements. 

*The referral source will be notified through email when the youth completes this step with a copy of the agreements made.

STEP FIVE 

Complete agreements. After completing the Family Group Conference the youth has at least 4 - 5 weeks to complete agreements. While the agreements are being completed 

*The referral contact is encouraged to check-in with youth to hear the agreements made and continue to support the youth. This step is important to help increase youths' accountability and success.

STEP SIX 

Follow-up meeting. After the agreements are completed the youth, with at least one adult, will attend a follow-up meeting. If all agreements are successfully completed a certificate will be provided. 

*The referral source will be contacted with the results of the youth receiving a certificate of completion or not. 

Timeline: Average time from the date of receiving the referral to a certificate being given can be 2-3 months.