Four Approaches to Family Team Meetings

Different Styles

A 2005 survey identified more than 50 different names for practices that involve families in child welfare decisions.

Research

More research is needed on family meeting approaches before experts can pinpoint evidence-based best practice models.

Family Team Conferencing

Family Team Conferencing strives to establish an agile support network to help sustain the family after agency involvement ends.

Family Group Decision Making

Family Group Decision Making is unique in that it incorporates private time for the family to develop a plan.

Permanency Teaming

Permanency Teaming uses a blend of individual, joint and large team meetings to address a child’s needs.

Team Decision-Making

In Team Decision-Making meetings, sessions focus on whether or not to move a child—and the agency makes the final call.

Since January 2020, the National Council on Crime and Deliquency has managed TDM, and is working to expand the practice's reach, impact and evidence base.