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Chapter 27: Family Engagement and Social Work in Statutory Settings

Additional resources for this chapter

instructor material

DOI:

10.1891/9780826120670.0027

Authors

  • Burford, Gale
  • Vandenbosch, Louise, MS
  • Sneed, Michele, BSW, MSW, LGSW

Abstract

This chapter discusses the concepts, underlying principles, benefits, and challenges of using “whole-family” approaches in social work. It articulates the theory and skills associated with family engagement as part of a human rights and social justice framework for social work practice in forensic settings. The chapter describes the ethical imperatives and evidence base supporting the use of family group decision making (FGDM) in regulatory settings. It engages whole families as partners in the use of FGDM in child protection and youth justice. The chapter also describes the theory, empirical support, and skills in use of FGDM, or family group conferencing (FGC). It concluded with an example of how alert forensic social workers must be to the potential for their best intentions to collide with the tenants of responsive practice and a quote from a child protection social worker who worked closely with the author on a pilot project using FGC.