January 1, 2008

Using Family Group Conferencing to Assist Immigrant Children and Families in the Child Welfare System

This issue brief paper by Michelle Howard and Lara Bruce highlights the key factors for consideration in using family group counseling (FGC) as an approach with children whose families traverse national borders. Key factors include creating collaborative relationships and obtaining agency stakeholders' buy-in. Cultural considerations are discussed for conducting FGC across borders, as well as funding considerations. A case study is provided that illustrates how FGC can be used to safely maintain family connections for children.