Tribe: Skokomish Indian Tribe
3.03.095 Family Group Conference
(a) A Family Group Conference may be convened at any time by the Indian Child Welfare Caseworker at the request of the youth or any member of the youth’s family, or the Indian Child Welfare caseworker may initiate the conference.
(b) When a Family Group Conference has been requested, the Indian Child Welfare Caseworker shall contact a Family Group Conference Facilitator. The Facilitator shall contact the requesting person and ask for names of family members who would be acceptable mediators. After consultation with all parties, the Facilitator shall select the mediator or mediators; arrange a date, time and place for the conference; notify the participants; and facilitate the conference.
(c) Participation in the conference shall include the youth’s parent(s), guardian(s), or custodian(s); extended family members; the Indian Child Welfare caseworker and the facilitator, and may include such mental health and medical professionals, school staff, attorneys or other representatives, religious leaders, and friends as the youth’s family, or the Indian Child Welfare caseworker believe are necessary or may be useful to achieving an acceptable agreement…[continues with full process]
(f) If the Family Group Conference is held prior to the commencement of any Court proceeding and the parties reach agreement, the agreement, when set forth in writing and signed by the parties, shall become a binding contract which may be enforced in Court.
(n) Family Group Conferences shall not be available in cases where there are allegations of sexual abuse.