Families solving their problems

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Families solving their problems

• Family Group Conferencing in the Netherlands
• with regard to family-problems
• John Blad

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Family Group Conferencing

• Eigen Kracht-conferentie
• a method to leave the responsibility with the
  family for severe decisions with regard to family
  problems. It gives the family the opportunity to
  make a plan, using their own capabilities and
  resources from outside the family.
• Inspired by 1989 New-Zealand model

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Increasingly used since 2001
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Applications in 2008

• In 2008 in sum 471 applications
• Organisations applied in 368 cases (78)
• Youth Care (voluntary context) 58 cs
• Youth Protection (non-voluntary) 115 cs
• Family members applied in 58 cs (12)
• Principal Persons themselves in 45 cs (10)

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Types of families involved

• All (nuclear) families involved have such severe
  problems that some form of action is required
• Principal persons in these problems are
• Children and young persons (and their parents)
• Adults
• Only 10 have no history of professional
  assistance

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471 cases in 2008

• Children were principal persons in 245 cases
• In sum 723 problems were mentioned
• Educational incompetence/neglect 130x
• Behavioral problems 119x
• Divorce-problems 85x
• Overburdened parents 65x

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471 cases in 2008

• Adults as principal persons in 226 cases
• Adults problems related to children 155 cases (
  in sum 522 problems)
• Similar pattern of problems as children
• Exclusively adults problems 71 cases (in sum 157
  problems)
• Predominantly finances, housing, illness.

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Main worries and questions

• Mentioned as reason for FGC on application form
• 400 cases with related children and adults as
  principal persons 1215 worries
• Education matters 224x
• Dwelling where should the child live 182x
• Conduct of the child 180x

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Phase 1 cases (2008)

• 162 cases (34) ended in the preparatory phase
  without a conference
• 31 cases another positive solution
• unknown reasons in 20 cases
• In all other cases there were impediments such as
  non-co-operation, quarrels or absence of a social
  network.

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Conference cases (2008)

• 309 cases resulted in a EKc
• Within three months after application 84
• 277 EKcs concerned children as principal persons
  (in sum 887 problems)
• 32 EKcs concerned only adults (in sum 75
  problems)

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Conference cases 2008

• Duration of the conferences
• Less than 8 hrs. (96)
• Private time (to prepare plan) 1-3 hrs.
• Numbers of participants per EKc
• On average 12.8 persons ( 3 to 50).

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Results of the conferences

• 296 EKCs resulted in a family plan (96)
• In only 2 cases the professional applicant did
  not accept the family-plan. Reason
• Family supervisor did not give his prior consent.
• Other reasons might have been
• Plan is against the law or is considered unsafe
  for involved children.

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Results of the conferences

• In 75 of the plans a.o. professional social
  assistance is requested
• In 92 of the plans an evaluation-date is
  planned
• In 86 of the plans an emergency-plan is
  included as back-up in case of failure.
• When place of residence was a worry in 27 of
  the plans residence was changed.

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Follow-up data

• In 90 of the EKcs a follow-up inquiry took
  place within six months.
• Average nr. of persons interviewed 3.2.
• Of all categories of involved persons
• 40 say plan completely implemented.
• 50 say it was implemented partially.
• Around 10 not implemented at all.

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Evaluations of professionals

• (65 respons) Average marks for the
• conferences 7.6
• plans 7.3
• co-ordinator 7.9
• EKc-regional manager 8.2

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Evaluations of family and social networks

• (74 respons) Average marks for
• The conference 7.7
• Private time 7.6
• Plan 7.8
• Co-ordinator 8.1
• Professional applicant 7.2

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Evaluations of family and social networks

• 64 of the respondents said they had input in
  terms of information
• 92 said they had asked everything they wanted to
  ask
• 93 said they had their full say
• 83 said they had contributed effectively to the
  plan
• 86 said they were completely at ease.

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Its the Familys move

• EKcs speed up a dramatic decrease in problems
  within 3 months
• referring professionals report slight
  improvements in safety and welfare of children
  involved within 3 and 9 months.
• Social cohesion within and support of the
  extended families/social networks increased. Less
  appeal to help agencies.
• Coping conduct and self-control increased

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Thank you for your attention

• Informations
• info_at_Eigen-Kracht.nl
• Complaints
• Blad_at_frg.eur.nl