Tribe: Hoh Indian Tribe
§ 4.01.230 Family Group Conference.
(1) The Family Group Conference may be held at any time prior to or following court
involvement when a decision must be made about where a child should live. Family Group
Conference otherwise known as “Family Team Decision-Making Meeting” is a family
focused intervention facilitated by the Indian Child Welfare Case Manager that is designed
to build and strengthen the natural care giving system for the child. The purpose of the
family group conference is to establish a plan that provides for the safety and permanency
needs of the child and to build communication, cooperation and collaboration between
family, the Tribe, and the child welfare professionals.
(2) Family decision meetings may include, but are not limited to, family group conferences,
family mediation, family support meetings, or other professionally recognized
interventions that include extended family and rely upon the family to make
recommendations about planning for its children.
(3) The Indian Child Welfare Case Manager is responsible to host a meeting when asked by
the Tribal Court, Child Protection Team, Washington Department of Social and Health
Services, or Indian Child Welfare supervisor. A relative may seek the assistance of an
Indian Child Welfare supervisor at any time.
(4) An initial Family Group Conference is voluntary (unless specifically ordered by the Court)
and can only be conducted if the child’s parent or parents, and other family members agree.
An initial family group conference must be held as soon as possible following the family’s agreement to participate, rather than as soon as a child’s involvement in the child welfare
system. Tribal Elders, caregivers and extended family members shall be invited to attend,
with the permission of the parent(s). All Family Group Conferences shall be confidential
and no information discussed during the conference shall be shared to anyone outside of
the conference unless necessary to protect the child.
(5) The Indian Child Welfare Case Manager shall establish an agenda for the conference. The
agenda will state the following topics to be discussed, and the Case Manager will facilitate
the conference to seek a written agreement:
(a) To decide whether the Child is in need of another place to live.
(b) To define the requirements of what the child needs for safety and permanency. (For
example, back ground checks for adults and caregivers over 16 years of age).
(c) To seek the family’s response to how the safety and permanency can be reached
within a reasonable amount of time.
(d) To determine what the strengths in the family are, and how they could be used to
help the child and family.
(e) To ask the family and group members to each contribute to a family decision to
form a written contract that they can endorse to aid the child and their family.
(f) To ensure that the written contract the family establishes contains contingencies for
support or emergencies. The Indian Child Welfare Case Manager shall provide
information on possible support groups, resources, etc.
(g) To make sure the family understands that the Indian Child Welfare Case Manager
is obligated to follow up to confirm the contract plan is functioning, and will be
responsible for contacting collateral contacts.
(6) The goal of the Family Group Conference is to make a plan that everyone feels is in the
best interest of the Child. If the group is unable to come to an agreement, the Indian Child
Welfare Case Manager and Supervisor are responsible to create a plan for the child based
upon their investigation and any input from professional service providers.