Purpose/Description:
Family Group Decision-Making (FGDM) is a strengths-based family practice that utilizes family, friends, social services, and governmnt agencies to create and implement an organized plan to overcome any individual or family concerns they are experiencing. FGDM was originally created to assist child service agencies in unifying children with families or to keep children within their communities. FGDM has been broadened to assist individuals within the Juvenile Justice system, Adult Probation system, Prison system, Public Schools, and in many other circumstances. The FGDM conferences are and will be used to bridge gaps between services and hold families accountable for the concerned individual(s).
The York County Family Group Decision Making Model allows families to draw from their own natural and community resources to develop a family plan to address concerns they are experiencing. These family resources are complimented by service providers that are invited to the conferences.
FGDM can be utiized to promote community safety, to prevent recidivism, deal with mental health issues, drug and alcohol issues, assist in community re-entry from any facility, and divert children from entering the system or a facility, as well as other concerns. FGDM empowers families to develop plans to overcome adverse issues they are experiencing. The dynamic ability of FGDM is its ability to deal with cross agency concerns and adapt to changing circumstances within each agency or family.
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Services:
The process starts with an agency or concerned individual referring an individual to the FGDM Coordinator (Coordinator contact information is listed below under "FGDM Coordinators).
Preconference:
Once the Coordinator has received a referral, family, friends, and professional staff who work with the individual in question are contacted and given information on family group -- how it works, the process, etc. The issues at hand are also discussed. They also schedule the family group conference at this time.
Conference:
At the conference, the group begins by identifying strengths -- of the person in question, of the other family members, of the supports received. Then, concerns are shared in the same manner. Once strengths and concerns have been identified, the group breaks from their work to share a meal. After the meal, the group comes back together to produce a detailed plan showing the individual tasks, who will be responsible, and when the tasks will be completed to address the concerns. Once the person who referred the individual to family group has approved the plan, a post conference date is agreed upon by everyone, and a copy of the finalized plan is distributed to all participants, so everyone knows what is expected of them.
Post Conference:
A post conference is held shortly after the original conference to make sure the plan is being followed, and to see if any changed need to be made to the plan. Again, all family, friends, service providers, etc, that participated in the original plan are involved in the post conference.
Follow-up Conference:
At any time that the group feels a follow-up conference is necessary, the referral source or another person involved in the family group can contact the Coordinator, and the Coordinator will work to schedule another conference to discuss concerns or adjust the plan.
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FGDM Coordinators:
The three York County CASSP Coordinators are also FGDM Coordinators.
For most FGDM contact, please contact Rodney Wagner.
Paul Stevens and Christy Tomaso are available as backup.
In addition to our FGDM Coordinators, York County contracts with an outside agency who provides all of the scheduling and facilitating for the actual family conferences. Referrals can be made directly to them, as well. Their information is as follows:
It Takes a Village, Inc.
1 West Market Street
2nd Floor
York Pennsylvania 17401-1332
Phone: (717) 650-1469
Fax: (717) 650-1492
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Forms & Documents:
FGDM Brochure - English
FGDM Community Referral Sheet - English
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