The meeting goes until a plan has been reached and agreed on, so set WHY HAVE A FGDM? WHAT IS FAMILY GROUP aside the whole day. DECISION MAKING (FGDM)? WHAT HAPPENS AFTER A You know what will work best REFERRAL IS MADE? for your child and your family. FGDM is a decision-making process that involves you, your relatives and friends, It is a good way to talk about the The coordinator will meet with you your Children’s Aid Society (CAS) worker safety of everyone in the family to prepare you for the FGDM, which and manager, your child’s lawyer, and group. includes: other service providers to make a plan to help you and your family and to meet the It helps the family group decide Explain about FGDM, ask concerns of the CAS. how family members and other who is in your family group, service providers can help. and how to contact them all. FGDM gives you and your child’s family and friends a way to make a plan that the You hear what the CAS worker Meet with everyone invited family group believes will work best for all and other service providers have before the FGDM meeting to of you. If your plan meets the to say and can ask them prepare them. requirements of the CAS, then your plan questions. also becomes the CAS plan. Ask you if there are other HOW TO REFER? service providers who could FGDM is one of the approved methods of help your family understand Alternative Dispute Resolution that the You can call FGDM to find out more something better. CAS is required to consider when a family information or to request a referral. is involved with CAS and decisions need to Child care, refreshments and be made. Your CAS worker makes the referral. a meal are provided and You, your child, or anyone in your travel arrangements can be extended family can ask your CAS made. worker to make a referral. WHO IS IN THE FAMILY WHAT HAPPENS IN A GROUP? HOW LONG DOES IT FGDM MEETING? TAKE? Your family group is made up of your Part 1: Welcome and Information child’s relatives (both maternal and It takes several weeks to set up the Sharing paternal), friends, and anyone who feels meeting and prepare everyone like family to you. Greeting and welcome based on the needs of each family. The coordinator will help everyone decide who is in your family group.
WHAT IS FAMILY GROUP DECISION MAKING (FGDM)? FGDM is a decision-making process that involves you, your relatives and friends, your Children’s Aid Society (CAS) worker and manager, your child’s lawyer, and other service providers to make a plan to help you and your family and to meet the concerns of the CAS. FGDM gives you and your child’s family and friends a way to make a plan that the family group believes will work best for all of you. If your plan meets the requirements of the CAS, then your plan also becomes the CAS plan. FGDM is one of the approved methods of Alternative Dispute Resolution that the CAS is required to consider when a family is involved with CAS and decisions need to be made. WHO IS IN THE FAMILY GROUP? Your family group is made up of your child’s relatives (both maternal and paternal), friends, and anyone who feels like family to you. The coordinator will help everyone decide who is in your family group. WHY HAVE A FGDM? You know what will work best for your child and your family. It is a good way to talk about the safety of everyone in the family group. It helps the family group decide how family members and other service providers can help. You hear what the CAS worker and other service providers have to say and can ask them questions. HOW TO REFER? You can call FGDM to find out more information or to request a referral. Your CAS worker makes the referral. You, your child, or anyone in your extended family can ask your CAS worker to make a referral. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE? It takes several weeks to set up the meeting and prepare everyone based on the needs of each family. The meeting goes until a plan has been reached and agreed on, so set aside the whole day. WHAT HAPPENS AFTER A REFERRAL IS MADE? The coordinator will meet with you to prepare you for the FGDM, which includes: Explain about FGDM, ask who is in your family group, and how to contact them all. Meet with everyone invited before the FGDM meeting to prepare them. Ask you if there are other service providers who could help your family understand something better. Child care, refreshments and a meal are provided and travel arrangements can be made. WHAT HAPPENS IN A FGDM MEETING? Part 1: Welcome and Information Sharing Greeting and welcome