Tribe: Native Village of Fort Yukon
SECTION 3.10.06
Justice Circles
The Justice Circle provides a structure that permits parents and their extended family the
opportunity to actively participate in a decision-making and to take responsibility for
developing a plan that will ensure safety, protection and permanency for their children. No
one is in a better position to know the strengths and the weaknesses of the family and who
the safe caregivers will be. Family too, is best suited to figuring out what the best resources
they can be counted on.
In a Justice Circle, the family is seen as the “expert” on themselves. When family
members are recruited and included in the decision-making practices and provide
adequate information, they are in the best position to develop a plan that will ensure the
protection and care of their children and to deal with family problems.. For family
members hold information that non-family members may not know-including family
secrets which may have a direct bearing on whether the child is subject to further abuse
or neglect. […] SECTION 3.11.01
Family Conferences
The family conference brings together parents, custodians, extended family members,
social workers, and any other significant people the family wishes to include. These
Justice Circles are voluntary, and are held only with the informed consent of the parents.
Family conferences are based on family strengths and parents are consulted during the
panning, regarding who should be invited, location, and other logistical considerations. […] SECTION 3.11.02
Three Stages of Justice Circles
1. Information Sharing
Information about the case is shared with the family. The social worker, tribal
representative and other service providers discuss both the positives and the concerns
about the family and how they relate to the safety and well-being of the child(ren). The
goal is to provide the family with as much information, as possible, about how the family
became involved with the child welfare system and the current situation. It is important
for family to hear all the information at the same time and to ask questions. Family
members are not usually asked to provide information during this part. This is also the
time for the social workers to let the family know if there are any plans they cannot
accept, due to safety issues that arises to the children then to address those issues in the
plan.
2. Family Private Time
Family meets alone without social workers or service providers. This gives them the
opportunity to discuss the child’s needs and to create a plan that will ensure the child’s
safety and well-being. They are also asked to discuss the needs of the parents and any
caregiver(s). The social workers and other tribal representatives remain accessible to the
family to answer questions, but do not stay in the room. The Keeper of the Circle
remains to facilitate and guide the discussion. The family takes as long as they need to
come up with plans that will address the concerns. In spite of the often emotional nature
of the meetings, families create plans that meet the protection and safety needs of
children.
3. Reviewing and Agreeing on the Plan
This is the final part of the Justice Circle, once the family has created their plan, they
present it to the Keeper of the Circle, social worker and other parties. The social worker
and other parties present review the plan with the family to determine if it meets the health and safety needs of the child. The social worker may approve the plan as is, or
fine tuning may occur with the family being asked to consider changes to meet any
remaining concerns if there are disagreements. Everyone receives a copy of the plan
which is signed by all involved family and parties.
The written plan detail specific steps for implementing the decision, including resource
allocations, responsible individuals, time frames, contingency plans, a monitoring system
and an evaluation process, to ensure its effectiveness in achieving child safety,
functioning and well-being. Monitoring is a useful tool to create continued partnership
between agencies and families to ensure progress and attainment of goals. […] SECTION 3.11.03
Roles of the Participants
The Family Unity meeting model was developed in 1989, based upon family group
decision making is rooted in strengths-based, child-centered, and family focused
philosophies. Strength based approach helps to identify what a family does well or what
is good about a family. Child centered and family focused mean that “the child
protective needs are at the center of decision making, but the service is focused on
building the family’s capacity to care for and protect the child(ren). Families have
knowledge that others may not know of and they are the best to provide information and
support.
A. Preparation Activities:
Prepare all information on the case for the family members and participants to help them
understand the meeting concept, clarify their roles, and reduce anxieties. Time is
required to prepare the facts, and importance of security and honesty when presented
those facts. All participant need to know the purpose of the meeting beforehand. A blend
of family and professionals that should attend should be held to a minimum to safeguard
against family members feeling overwhelmed.
B. Keeper of the Circle:
Sets the tone, remains neutral and impartial.
Facilitates, welcome, introduce and share information with group.
Assure safety and support for the children who participate.
Discuss referral with the social service and other parties.
Meet the parents to discuss fully the options available.
Assist with contacting other relatives and other involved people to attend,
voluntarily.
Reconvene group for presenting of family’s plan.
Facilitate discussion and decision-making around the plan. C. Social Workers:
The social workers with the Keeper of the Circle develop a list of
relatives.
Attend the Justice Circle, family conference to clearly explain the
assessment and safety concerns in a respectful and non-judgmental way.
Share assessment of family’s strengths.
Explain the potential resources/services available to the family.
Let the family find their own solutions and listen to the family’s
explanations of their plan.
Be open to a range of solutions for addressing the concerns and issues of
the children.
Listen to the family explain their plan and let them know if the Court is
able to endorse, or if modifications are needed to be consistent; or if it
cannot be endorsed, inform the family.
D. Family Group:
Must be voluntary and must be based upon the best interest of the
child/family.
Keep confidential the issues of the session.
Should be given all information necessary to make informed decisions for
the children.
Must have as much time necessary to meet in private to make decisions.