Core Values 

• All families have strengths  

• Families are experts on themselves  

• Families deserve to be treated with dignity and respect  

• Families can make well-informed decisions about keeping their children safe when supported. 

• Outcomes improve when families are involved in decision-making 

• A team is often more capable of creative and high-quality decision-making than an individual 

• Outcomes improve when a comprehensive assessment of children’s and families strengths and challenges provides the foundation for engagement, service planning and delivery. 

• Members of the family’s own community add value to the process by serving as natural allies to the family and experts on community resources.  

• When families are respectfully included in the decision making process in a timely manner, they are capable of identifying and participating in addressing their needs and making decisions about their children.  

• Permanency planning is successful when children are connected to permanent, legal families, when youth are provided the opportunity and time to plan and prepare for independence, when supports to live independently or to make a successful transition to adult services are identified and provided, and when there is communication and collaboration among LDSS programs to ensure strong team support across the age continuum and regardless of the child’s goal 

 Purpose of Child & Family Team Meetings… 

• Development of plans for services for the family when a child is placed in foster care 

• Review of plans developed during a High Risk/Very High Child Assessment 

• Requested by  a Parent (birth, foster, adoptive or legal guardian), Youth or Social Worker 

• Development of plans in cases where the Department has been placed ‘on-notice’ by the court  

Role of the facilitator… 

During the meeting, the Facilitator will: 

• Clearly state the purpose of the FPM meeting  

• Identify ground rules 

• Identify safety issues  

• Develop Plan with the guidance of CPS/FC worker & family  

• Copy & distribute plan to team participants 

• Set follow up meeting date and identify additional participants 

Click the link below for more information: 

                             Child and Family Team Meetings