DayBreak Family Group Conferences

The Smith Family
The Smiths are a family with a four and a half year old child and a two year old child.

The children were living with their mum after the parents had separated. Mum Tina had stopped the children’s contact with their Dad because she thought that contact was not in their best interests. He was now trying to get contact though the Family Courts.

This situation was causing problems at home, for example the Jessie, the older child had been excluded from school due to her uncontrollable behaviour. The FGC was organised to try and sort out the contact issue without going to court. During the preparations for the FGC it also came out that the mum had previously had a lot of practical and emotion help from her mother-in-law, Gloria.

An intial FGC and a review meeting enabled contact with Dad to be succesfully organised and Tina's supportive relationship with Gloria was re-established.

The Karlsson Family
This was a referral for James, a young man of 13.

James' relationship with his parents had broken down, he was drinking, he had been permanently excluded from school and was getting into trouble with the law. At the time of the referral he was living with a friend as he had left home and didn't want to be put into social services accommodation.

James had lots of different workers involved with him and his parents were trying to help but they all felt they had reached a deadlock.

There was a series of three FGCs, attended by James his extended family and a wide range of professionals. It was decided that the professionals should continue to meet with the James and his parents on a regular basis after the FGC process had finished. James went back to his parents' care and they and all the workers reported major improvements in him.

The Shirley Family
The focus of the referral was Lisa, age 13, and her 5 year old brother, Karl.

They had been put into their grandmother's care by Social Services because their mum had problems with her mental health and alcohol abuse. At the time of the referral Lisa was in foster care, as she had fallen out with her grandmother.

At the FGC she had an independent Advocate to support her and help her tell the family about her feelings. At the first meeting the family planned for Lisa to return to her grandmother's, with increased contact with her mother. The family plan ultimately aimed for the children to return to their mum, so the second meeting in particular also looked at the mother’s needs in order for her to achieve and maintain good mental health her and tackle her alcohol abuse problems.

Both children are now back living with their mother.

Support Our Charity

www.daybreakfgc.org.uk The website of Daybreak Family Group Conferences. Charity no. 1077607 Company no. 378026.

The name 'Daybreak' is translated from the Maori word 'Puao-te-ata-tu'.
This was the title of the report from which the concept of family group conferences first began.

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		What famillies have said about their FGCs. Send us your feedback and comments.
	Family Stories This page gives the outlines of some different families who have had FGCs and what results they have achieved.
	You can also send us your own experience of FGCs. Who has FGCs? These family stories give us an idea of what sort of people have FGCs. *All names have been changed to protect privacy.
The Smith Family The Smiths are a family with a four and a half year old child and a two year old child. The children were living with their mum after the parents had separated. Mum Tina had stopped the children’s contact with their Dad because she thought that contact was not in their best interests. He was now trying to get contact though the Family Courts. This situation was causing problems at home, for example the Jessie, the older child had been excluded from school due to her uncontrollable behaviour. The FGC was organised to try and sort out the contact issue without going to court. During the preparations for the FGC it also came out that the mum had previously had a lot of practical and emotion help from her mother-in-law, Gloria. An intial FGC and a review meeting enabled contact with Dad to be succesfully organised and Tina's supportive relationship with Gloria was re-established. The Karlsson Family This was a referral for James, a young man of 13. James' relationship with his parents had broken down, he was drinking, he had been permanently excluded from school and was getting into trouble with the law. At the time of the referral he was living with a friend as he had left home and didn't want to be put into social services accommodation. James had lots of different workers involved with him and his parents were trying to help but they all felt they had reached a deadlock. There was a series of three FGCs, attended by James his extended family and a wide range of professionals. It was decided that the professionals should continue to meet with the James and his parents on a regular basis after the FGC process had finished. James went back to his parents' care and they and all the workers reported major improvements in him. The Shirley Family The focus of the referral was Lisa, age 13, and her 5 year old brother, Karl. They had been put into their grandmother's care by Social Services because their mum had problems with her mental health and alcohol abuse. At the time of the referral Lisa was in foster care, as she had fallen out with her grandmother. At the FGC she had an independent Advocate to support her and help her tell the family about her feelings. At the first meeting the family planned for Lisa to return to her grandmother's, with increased contact with her mother. The family plan ultimately aimed for the children to return to their mum, so the second meeting in particular also looked at the mother’s needs in order for her to achieve and maintain good mental health her and tackle her alcohol abuse problems. Both children are now back living with their mother. Support Our Charity HOME \| CONTACT \| NEWS & EVENTS \| LINKS \| ABOUT DAYBREAK \| VALUES STATEMENT \| ABOUT FGCs DAYBREAK PROGRAMMES \| DOVE \| BLUEBIRD \| FAMILY STORIES \| YOUR COMMENTS TRAINING & CONSULTATION \| VACANCIES \| DONATIONS \| EMAIL headoffice@daybreakfgc.org.uk www.daybreakfgc.org.uk The website of Daybreak Family Group Conferences. Charity no. 1077607 Company no. 378026. The name 'Daybreak' is translated from the Maori word 'Puao-te-ata-tu'. This was the title of the report from which the concept of family group conferences first began. Webdesign by www.summerlandstudios.co.uk \| hq@summerlandstudios.co.uk Photographs courtesy of Stock.xchng www.sxc.hu and copyright of the individual creators © 2009