FGDM Issue Briefs

Welcome to the Issue Briefs section of our website. It will be updated regularly with thoughtful pieces on the origins, state of practice, policy considerations, and philosophies of family group decision making and other family engagement approaches.

A Solution to Racial Disproportionality and Disparities in Child Welfare by Molly Jenkins

For the Common Good: Rob van Pagée on Family Group Conferencing in the Netherlands by Molly Jenkins

Five Counties, Many Voices: Profiles of Family Engagement in Colorado’s Child Welfare System Interviews conducted by Molly Jenkins

Dads and Paternal Relatives: Using Family Group Decision Making to Refocus the Child Welfare System on the Entire Family Constellation Molly Jenkins and Ellen Kinney

Family Group Decision Making: The Importance of Independent Coordination Michael Doolan

The Use of Self in Conference Coordination Jeanette Schmid

Using Family Group Conferencing in the Children’s Mental Health Context Jeanette Schmid, Conference Coordinator

Reviewing a Swedish Outcome Study on Family Group Conferences Kathleen Tinworth and Lisa Merkel-Holguin

Youth Participants Speak About Their Family Group Conference Angel Dawson and Briana Yancey

Family Group Conferencing: A Message from the Bench Honorable Todd A. Hoover, Dauphin County Juvenile Dependency/Orphan’s Court Judge

The Intersection between Family Group Decision Making and Systems-of-Care Lisa Merkel-Holguin, Director, National Center on Family Group Decision Making

Family Group Conferencing: A Realistic Option for Juvenile Justice? Honorable Richard A. Lewis, President Judge, Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas