Family Group Conference - a child's perspective

Summary

A 12-year-old girl, Mina, describes her experience living in a high-conflict situation after her parents’ divorce. Her father has a new family and is often unavailable, while Mina has to sleep on the couch and share space when at her mother’s home. Frequent family arguments continue, and her mother’s illness leads to mood swings and sometimes hospital visits.

Mina also struggles at school—experiencing frequent lateness, stomach aches, forgetfulness, and difficulty keeping up with homework—until the school contacts Child Welfare Services.

Child Welfare Services proposal: Family Group Conference

Child Welfare Services (Anita) proposes a Family Group Conference, bringing Mina together with trusted family members and supportive adults to discuss how to help her. The process is framed as empowering because Mina can help shape the agenda and decide who participates.

Mina and Anita develop specific questions centered on:

• Improving Mina’s school situation
• Transportation needs (especially for football practice)
• Making both homes (Dad’s and Mom’s) better for Mina
• A key missing issue: how Mina can spend more time with her friend/companion, Coco

Attendees and constraints

Mina suggests the following attendees:

• Her father
• Her uncle (who she believes supports her)
• Her uncle’s daughter, Hela (able to help with clothes and support)
• Her mother’s friend (as Mina’s support person)
• Her teacher (to explain school needs)
• Coco as her “best friend,” despite Coco not being able to speak

Some family members are not allowed to attend due to Mina’s family rules for the meeting.

Conference outcomes and actions

During the conference, adults discuss needs calmly, avoid major arguments, and document agreed actions. Key decisions include:

• Mina can walk to school independently, with backup support from Nana if needed.
• Weekly support from Hela to help with homework.
• Mina’s football practice attendance will be managed by her father or uncle.
• Mina and Coco can visit each other frequently, with flexibility even without planned schedules.
• Dad will build Mina her own room, so she no longer has to share.
• If her mother is ill or hospitalized, Mina will stay with her father, coordinated between parents.
• Coco will spend weekends with Mina and her mother.
• A follow-up Family Group Conference is planned, along with additional meetings with Child Welfare Services.

Mina’s conclusion

Mina says the conference improves her life: school gets better as parental conflict decreases, and she gains more opportunities to be with Coco. She feels relief, describes the meeting as positive despite her nerves, and looks forward to the next conference.

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Presenters or Contributors

• Mina (12-year-old speaker)
• Anita (Child Welfare Services / coordinator for the case plan)
• Gard (family group conference coordinator)
• Mina’s teacher
• Dad (Mina’s father)
• Uncle TR (Dad’s side)
• Hela (Uncle TR’s daughter)
• Nana (support for school transportation)
  • Indicated via: “Nana will come”
• Mina’s mother
• Mina’s mother’s friend (support person) (named “Mona” in the subtitles)
• Coco (Mina’s friend/best friend; present/participating despite not speaking)
• Child Welfare Services group (referenced through the process and meetings)