Family Group Conferences

This book assesses the principles and practices of family group conferences in the juvenile justice and child protection systems. All the chapters emphasise the values which distinguish family group conferences from conventional mechanisms for making decisions about young people who are either in need of care and protection or who commit offences: respecting the integrity of the family unit; including the extended family; strengthening family and community supports; sharing power between the state and families; creating opportunities for parents to feel responsible for their children and themselves; and showing sensitivity and respect for families cultures.