Conferences & Training

Family Group Decision Making (FGDM) and Restorative Conferencing for Youth Justice (RCYJ) Webinars

Building on the success of the annual Family Group Decision Making Conference and to complement our training institutes, in recognizing that some FGDM coordinators and facilitators are geographically isolated, work independently in their community, or have limited resources to attend skills-based training, American Humane began its FGDM Teleconference Series in August 2007. The teleconferences are scheduled to occur monthly throughout the year. American Humane’s FGDM team identifies topics for the Teleconference Series based on training and conference evaluations and informal dialogues with our FGDM colleagues.

This series is designed to promote stimulating dialogue that helps community leaders advance the practice, policy and implementation of FGDM and RCYJ; create a culture of support and learning for FGDM and RCYJ coordinators/facilitators and other service providers; build strategic solutions (based on the experiences of many) to any roadblocks encountered with implementation; and leverage the expertise within the FGDM and RCYJ networks. While much information may be shared and discussed, these webinars are not intended to be trainings.

Register for one or more sessions. (PDF)

Available Sessions

Challenging Situations: Where Do We Go From Here?

Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009, 2:00 p.m. EST

What do you do when a family’s case is transferred from a referring caseworker who is very supportive of the FGDM process to a caseworker who does not trust the family to keep the children safe? Or when family groups have a large percentage of incapacitated members (developmentally delayed, untreated mental health/substance abuse issues, etc.) who struggle to develop plans? Family members who become polarized, believing they each have the best plan and are unwilling to negotiate with each other? Family plans hijacked by systems post-family meeting without the families’ knowledge or involvement? Family members who refuse to attend if certain other family members are going to be there? In advance of this webinar, you are encouraged to submit case examples to American Humane that will serve as the platform for brainstorming solutions to challenges encountered during FGDM.

Responding Restoratively to Children and Youth in Dual Jurisdictions of Dependency and Delinquency

Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009, 2:00 p.m. EDT

Research shows that the average delinquency rate is 47 percent higher for children and youth who have been neglected or abused. Young persons involved in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems are considered “dual jurisdiction.” In many cases, children in the welfare system are moved from a system of care to a system of punishment and rehabilitation once they commit an offense. American Humane has developed an innovative restorative process that addresses both accountability and care in dual-jurisdiction cases. This webinar will provide an introduction to this groundbreaking model and a discussion of how it can effectively change the ways in which juvenile justice and child welfare systems collaborate for the benefit of youth and children.