Bureau of Children and Family Services    

 Family Group Decision Making                  

UR MISSION

The mission of Family Group Decision Making Program is to empower families to join forces with extended families, neighbors, community partners, and public agencies to work together to ensure child protection and family well-being.  

UR VISION

 Community well-being through shared respect, wisdom, and resources.

UR PRINCIPLES

FIRST PRINCIPLE: FAMILIES AS EXPERTS
Families are the best experts about themselves. They have the most extensive information about themselves on which decisions can be made

SECOND  PRINCIPLE: YOUR OWN FAMILY AS YOUR BEST GUIDE
In order to understand and work with families other than your own, you need to know how your own family makes decisions.

THIRD  PRINCIPLE: RESPECT FOR FAMILIES
We can only work effectively with families if we show them the same respect we would wish to be shown to our own family in similar circumstances. We have to be aware that respect itself is culturally determined

FOURTH  PRINCIPLE: FAMILIES AS PRIMARY DECISION MAKERS
Families should be the primary decision makers in matters of care for their members. We as professionals should be respectful and supportive of their decisions.

FIFTH  PRINCIPLE: MISTAKES AS OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
Families have the right to make their own mistakes and learn from them.

SIXTH  PRINCIPLE: RESOLUTIONS ARE BASED ON STRENGTHS
Our professional responsibility is to support the strengths identified by the family and to assist them in identifying others.

SEVENTH  PRINCIPLE: CELEBRATION OF DIFFERENCES
Every family is unique. Their differences should be acknowledged and celebrated as being normal.