Family Participation

Team Decision Making Meetings

What is Team Decision Making (TDM)?
A TDM meeting brings together families, relatives, supportive friends and community resources to address safety issues within a family.

The meeting is a sharing of all information about the family that relates to the protection of the children and functioning of the family. The goal is to reach consensus about a plan that protects the children and preserves or reunifies the family.

Who can attend a TDM?
You are encouraged to bring anyone who is supportive of you and your family to the meeting. This could be:

• Youth
• Relatives
• Someone from your church
• Close friends
• Neighbors
• Community resources
• Anyone who is supportive

What will happen at the TDM?
A facilitator, who is knowledgeable about child protective services/delinquency policies, guides the meeting. The family will fully participate in the TDM, and the Division of Children, Youth and Families will make the final recommendation.

The steps to the meeting include:

1. Introduction and meeting rules
2. History and safety concerns
3. Identification of child's needs, family strengths, and community resources
4. Exploration of placement options and issues
5. Development of a plan for the child?s immediate safety, including a follow-up plan

Guidelines for an effective TDM:
All participants should:

• Arrive on time to the meeting
• Contribute to the meeting by being honest and respectful
• Have the opportunity to be heard
• Express what you are willing to do and make commitments
• Honor the privacy of others
• Focus on the safety needs of the child

 

Icebreaker Meetings 

What is an Icebreaker Meeting?
An Icebreaker Meeting is the first meeting between birth parents and caregivers.

Why are Icebreakers important?
An icebreaker meeting is held for caregivers to learn important information about the child/children's lives in their care.

Birth parents are asked to share information ranging from the child's favorite food, to any known allergies or medical conditions.

Birth parents and caregivers share information about themselves and their parenting practices.

Most icebreaker meetings last about 30 minutes and are held either before or after a visitation.  The primary goal is to start developing a working relationship between parents and caregivers.

What is the birth parent's role in an icebreaker?
Birth parents need to share information about their child/children, such as bedtime or daily routines, allergies, favorite toys and foods, hobbies, likes and dislikes, etc.

What is the caregiver's role in an icebreaker?
Caregivers ask the parents for specific information about the child, such as permission for hair cuts and medical needs.

Caregivers ask questions that will help them understand the child/children's needs; including cultural traditions, activities and routines.

What is the role of the Division of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF)?
A caseworker or case aide from DCYF will:

• Coordinate and facilitate the meeting. 
• Make sure the participants understand the reason the meeting is being held and what will be discussed.
• Keep the discussion focused on the child/ children's needs.
• Ensure that participants feel safe and comfortable.

What are the benefits for the children? 
When there is contact between birth parents and caregivers, the children:

• Have more stable placements.
• Experience better emotional development.
• Are more successful in school.
• Feel safer and more comfortable when placed away from their home.
• Return home sooner.

What are the benefits for the birth parents?
Contact with caregivers helps birth parents feel more at ease about their child's safety and well-being while in placement.

What are the benefits for the caregivers?
Caregivers and birth parents communicate better, reducing the amount of conflicts and questioning between the two parties.

Caregivers have the information to answer the children's questions.

How to have an effective icebreaker meeting:

1. Arrive on time.
2. Focus on the child/children's needs.
3. Respect the feelings, opinions, cultural differences and ideas of others.
4. Recognize the importance each person has in the life of the child/children.
5. Keep what is said in the meeting private.
6. Be open and honest.

 

 

Last Modified: Aug 31, 2009 11:57 AM