Family Group Decision Making (FGDM) is a culturally-sensitive process that gives the extended family and friends of children at-risk an opportunity to collaboratively develop a plan focused on the best interest and safety of the children. 

How did FGDM begin?

The Family Group Decision Making (FGDM) Program is a result of a collective effort to better support families’ involvement in child protection and permanency of care. The concept of Family Group Conferencing (FGC) originated in New Zealand based on concerns about the over-representation of aboriginal Maori children within child welfare and juvenile justice systems. The main objective of FGC is to give the family group (nuclear and extended family as well as friends) a voice in the decision-making process to ensure the safety and well being of children who are at significant risk of or in need of protection from abuse and neglect.

FGC/FGDM has established itself in many regions across Europe, Australia and North America. A program has operated successfully in Toronto for close to a decade. Over a 5 year period, many agencies throughout the Waterloo region met in an effort to establish Family Group Decision Making in our community.  This involved community discussion and a proposal to Trillium.

 In late 2006 through collaboration between Community Justice Initiatives, The Ministry of Community and Social Services and Family and Children Services of the Waterloo Region, this program is being facilitated. It will specifically serve families who are in the Kinship Service or Kinship Care of F&CS. 

CJI’s FGDM program has a steering committee comprised of agencies representing Children and families in the community of KW and Cambridge. They include: Family and Children Services, KW Counselling, the Waterloo District School Board, the Catholic School Board; Our Place, Early Years Centres; Family Counseling Centre of Cambridge and North Dumfries; KW Multicultural Centre

Please click on the links listed below for more information about FGDM.

http://www.georgehullcentre.on.ca

http://www.americanhumane.org/children/programs/family-group-decision-making 

To contact Family and Children's Services:

http://www.facswaterloo.org