Successful,sustainable? Facilitating the growth of family group conferencing in Canada

ABSTRACT

Family-centered approaches offer significant promise regarding the enhancement of child and family safety. Child protection workers find value in working alongside families, whereas families appreciate having a voice in decision-making processes. The introduction of Family Group Conferencing (FGC) in New Zealand in 1989 prompted the exploration of family partnership options internationally. This study, focusing on Ontario, Canada, examines the expansion of FGC from a local pilot in 1998 to a current province-wide initiative. The internal and external factors that have promoted and inhibited change were investigated. Interviews and a focus group were used to elicit the perspectives of Alternative Dispute managers and key informants. Participants concluded that the FGC program has been successful as a result of multilevel and multipronged change efforts. However, the long-term viability remains in question, primarily because of unstable funding and uneven buy-in, on provincial levels and within child welfare agencies. To ensure sustainability current strengths should be built upon, employing the same intentional, strategic planning that characterized the introduction of FGC into the province. The Ontario experience provides pointers for interested parties wishing to embed FGC and other family-centered approaches in daily child welfare practice.