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A family group conference (FGC) is a formal meeting:
- in care and protection cases, for members of the family group/whanau/hapu/iwi to discuss with social workers what needs to be done to make sure a child or young person is safe and well cared for.
- in youth justice cases, for members of the family group/whanau/hapu/iwi, the young offender and the victim to decide how the young offender can be held accountable and encouraged to take responsibility for their behaviour.
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What is a family group conference?
A family group conference (FGC) is a formal meeting:
- in care and protection cases, for members of the family group/whanau/hapu/iwi to discuss with social workers what needs to be done to make sure a child or young person is safe and well cared for.
- The law recognises that families have the main responsibility for caring for their children and young persons, and protecting them from harm. At times, though, families may need help. The FGC ensures that families and whanau are supported to develop their own solutions to their problems. Social workers and families work together to reach agreement on how to keep a child safely within the family group.
- The FGC is a means of balancing children’s need and right to be safe, with their need and right to be in a family
- in youth justice cases, for members of the family group/whanau/hapu/iwi, the young offender and the victim to decide how the young offender can be held accountable and encouraged to take responsibility for their behaviour.
Find out more about:
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Attending the FGC
- A care and protection coordinator from Child, Youth and Family will make arrangements after consulting the family.
- As many family members as possible will be invited to attend. Final arrangements about date, time and place will be made, as far as possible, to suit those who want to be there.
- Some financial help may be available from Child, Youth and Family to make sure that everyone who needs to go to the conference can do so.
- The conference can take place anywhere that the child or young person and their family or whanau feel comfortable, such as in a meeting room, on a marae, or in a home.
- The coordinator will explain which people outside the family are likely to be at the conference, what the family/whanau rights are, and what everyone is expected to do.
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Who attends an FGC?
People who may attend the care and protection FGC are:
- the child or young person
- parents/guardians
- family/whanau
- a social worker from Child, Youth and Family or other agency or iwi or cultural social service (who referred the matter)
- a care and protection coordinator
- counsel-for-the-child (if appointed)
- Police
Other people with special information may attend as necessary, such as a public health nurse; teacher; support group; psychiatrist; doctor; or lawyer. These people are there to provide information and give advice, not to make decisions.
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The care and protection process
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What happens at the FGC?
Step 1: Information and advice giving
This involves all members of the conference. It lets everyone know:
- why the FGC is being held
- what the issues are
- what help is available to sort out the problem.
Step 2: Family discussion in private
The family has time to talk in private about how the child or young person can be cared for and kept safe, who should look after the child or young person, and what help can be provided.
Step 3: Decisions, recommendation and plans
- The family reports back its decisions to the whole conference, and everyone has to decide and agree on whether there is a care and protection problem and whether the proposed plan will keep the child safe.
- The plan has to say who is going to be responsible for the care of the child or young person and where they will live, what services or organisations are needed as support for the child and family, what payments are needed to support the child, and when the plan is to be reviewed.
- In over 90 per cent of cases, family group conferences agree about what should be done. If agreement can’t be reached, the case may go to the Family Court for a solution to be worked out.
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After the FGC
Copies of the plan will be given to everyone affected by the decisions. The coordinator has responsibility for seeing the plan is reviewed. If it is not working, or circumstances change, the coordinator must be told immediately and another FGC may be called.
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Family rights
Family members have the right to decide whether or not they agree that a child/young person is in need of care and protection. If the family members don’t agree, the matter is referred back to the social worker or agency who presented the case and who will then consider what action to take. If there is non-agreement, the social worker may refer the matter to the Family Court.
Family members also have the right to:
- be fully informed about the investigation
- be consulted about who is in the family and who should attend the conference, and where and when it will take place
- give and be given any necessary information
- consider matters in private at any time
- have an interpreter
- take as much time as necessary to find solutions
- expect their plans, recommendations and decisions to be accepted unless they are impractical, do not keep the child safe, or are in breach of the law.
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The Family Court
The Family Court is where you get help to sort out family problems. Family Court judges are approachable and are appointed to work in this Court because of their understanding and experience of family matters.
The Family Court deals with a wide range of issues affecting families and children that includes:
- care and protection matters
- the adoption and guardianship of children
- custody or access disputes when parents separate.
To read more about the role and processes of the Family Court, Then click here .
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Services 
