Pennell, J., & Burford, G. (2000). Family Group Decision Making: Protecting children and women. Child Welfare, 79(2), 131–158. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ635687

Type of Study: Pretest–posttest study with a nonequivalent control group (Quasi-experimental)
Number of Participants: 91 children and their families

Population:

• Age — 0–17 years
• Race/Ethnicity — Inuit and European descent (percentages not specified)
• Gender — Not specified
• Status — Participants were children in the foster care system who had been subjects of abuse or neglect.

Location/Institution: Eastern Canada

Summary: (To include basic study design, measures, results, and notable limitations)
The purpose of the study was to compare families in a Family Group Decision Making (FGDM) program with other families from child protective services (CPS). Participants were from families in the FGDM group or families from CPS. Measures utilized include administrative data from the Department of Social Services and the Child Protection Events checklist. Results indicate that FGDM families had half the number of maltreatment events in the posttest relative to the pretest period, while comparison group events increased. The number of reports to and actions taken by CPS also fell for the FGDM group. Cases of mother/wife abuse also declined in FGDM group families and rose somewhat in the comparison group. Limitations include lack of random assignment to conditions and lack of statistical analysis to verify the significance of observed group differences.

Length of controlled postintervention follow-up: 1 year.

Sundell, K., & Vinnerljung, B. (2004). Outcomes family group conferencing in Sweden: A 3-year follow-up. Child Abuse & Neglect, 28(3), 267–287. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2003.09.018

Type of Study: Pretest–posttest study with a nonequivalent control group (Quasi-experimental)
Number of Participants: 248

Population:

• Age — 0–17 years
• Race/Ethnicity — Not specified
• Gender — Not specified
• Status — Participants were families referred to Family Group Conferencing by child welfare services.

Location/Institution: Sweden

Summary: (To include basic study design, measures, results, and notable limitations)
The purpose of the study was to report on client outcomes of the implementation of the Family Group Conferences (FGC) [also called Family Group Decision-Making (FGDM)] in 10 local authorities throughout Sweden. Participants were families referred for FGC compared to families receiving standard child protective services (CPS) procedures. Measures utilized include administrative data from case files, and caseworker ratings of the severity of children’s problems at baseline and at case closure. Results indicate that as measured at closure, FGC group children received more services and were more likely to be living with extended family. At long-term follow-up, there were significantly more overall substantiated maltreatment reports for the comparison group and more reports of physical and sexual abuse. However, the FGC group was more likely to have had a substantiated report of neglect. Groups did not differ with regard to referrals for children’s antisocial behavior problems. FGC group families received services for a longer period. FGC group children were more likely to be in out-of-home care at follow-up but were also more likely to have been placed with extended family. Limitations include attrition and lack of random assignment to groups.

Length of controlled postintervention follow-up: 3 years.

Walker, L. (2005). A cohort study of ‘Ohana conferencing in child abuse and neglect cases. Protecting Children, 19(4), 36–46. https://calio.dspacedirect.org/handle/11212/102

Type of Study: Pretest–posttest study with a nonequivalent control group (Quasi-experimental)
Number of Participants: 60 families

Population:

• Age — FGDM: Mean=8.6 years; Comparison group: Mean=8.3 years
• Race/Ethnicity — 87% African American, 10% White, and 3% Mixed, Hispanic, and Other
• Gender — Not specified
• Status — Participants were children in the child welfare system who had been involved in Family Group Conferences.

Location/Institution: Four different areas of O'ahu, Hawaii

Summary: (To include basic study design, measures, results, and notable limitations)
The purpose of the study was to compare differences in outcomes in child protective services cases in which parents voluntarily agreed to the foster placement of their children when ’Ohana Conferencing [also called Family Group Decision-Making (FGDM)] was used and when it was not used. Participants were families who either received ‘Ohana conferencing or services as usual. Measures utilized include administrative data from the State of Hawaii’s Department of Human Services (DHS). Results indicate that the ‘Ohana conferencing group had shorter case times and fewer court hearings. Children in ‘Ohana conferencing had fewer foster placements, emergency shelter placements, and fewer court-ordered permanent custody placements. Groups did not differ on placement with relatives. Limitations include lack of randomization to conditions or matched comparison group, selection bias, and while child protective services cases overall were randomly selected for consideration, the ‘Ohana conferencing group came disproportionately from one location and cases referred for conferencing tended to have fewer prior abuse and neglect reports.

Length of controlled postintervention follow-up: None.

Crampton, D., & Jackson, W. L. (2006). Family Group Decision Making and disproportionality in foster care: A case study. Child Welfare, 86(3), 51–69. https://www.jstor.org/stable/45400401

Type of Study: Pretest–posttest study with a nonequivalent control group (Quasi-experimental)
Number of Participants: 257

Population:

• Age — Not specified
• Race/Ethnicity — 73% African American
• Gender — Not specified
• Status — Participants were children in the child welfare system who agreed to participate in the Family Group Decision Making (FGDM) process.

Location/Institution: Kent County, Michigan

Summary: (To include basic study design, measures, results, and notable limitations)
The purpose of the study was to describe one community's efforts to use Family Group Decision Making (FGDM) in placement decisions to reduce disproportionality in foster care by diverting children from regular foster care services and keeping them within their extended families. Participants were youth receiving FGDM compared to those who did not receive FGDM. Measures utilized include Family Court administrative data were used to examine the long-term outcomes of the 257 cases referred to the FGDM program from 1996-1998. Results indicate that most of the children placed through FGDM remained outside the child welfare system; however, more than two-thirds of the cases closed with children remaining with legal guardians receiving significantly less financial assistance than caregivers licensed for foster care or receiving an adoption subsidy. It was also shown that children placed through regular foster care services were more likely to be adopted. Limitations include the lack of randomization, missing data, validity, and reliability of outcome measures.

Length of controlled postintervention follow-up: Not specified.

Berzin, S. C., Cohen, E., Thomas, K., & Dawson, W. C. (2008). Does Family Group Decision Making affect child welfare outcomes? Findings from a randomized control study. Child Welfare, 87(4), 35–54. https://www.jstor.org/stable/48623127

Type of Study: Randomized controlled trial
Number of Participants: Fresno: 60; Riverside: 50

Population:

• Age — Fresno: Birth–18 years; Riverside: 2–12 years
• Race/Ethnicity — Fresno: 57% Hispanic, 23% Caucasian, 13% African American, and 7% Other; Riverside: 46% Caucasian, 36% Hispanic, and 18% African American
• Gender — 55% Male and 45% Female
• Status — Participants were children and adolescents ages birth–18 years old who had been the subject of a child maltreatment investigation.

Location/Institution: Fresno and Riverside Counties, CA

Summary: (To include basic study design, measures, results, and notable limitations)
The purpose of the study was to describe the evaluation of two Family Group Decision Making (FGDM) programs. Participants were enrolled in FGDM or blended family unity and family group conferencing models. Measures utilized include administrative data from the California Child Services Archives that determined child safety as indicated by reports of child abuse and neglect, and removal from the home; permanency outcomes including time to permanency and exit outcomes; and placement stability including number of placements and type of placement moves. Results indicate that there were not more positive outcomes for children receiving the intervention, but did indicate that children were not worse than those receiving traditional services. Outcomes examined were related to child safety, placement stability, and permanence. Limitations include small sample size, lack of follow-up, and contamination may have occurred in this study, impacting the ability to detect differences between the treatment and comparison groups.

Length of controlled postintervention follow-up: None.

Sheets, J., Wittenstrom, K., Fong, R., James, J., Tecci, M., Baumann, D., J., & Rodriguez, C. (2009). Evidence-based practice in Family Group Decision-Making for Anglo, African American and Hispanic families. Children and Youth Services Review, 31(11), 1187–1191. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2009.08.003

Type of Study: Type of Study: Pretest–posttest study with a nonequivalent control group (Quasi-experimental)
Number of Participants: 4,066

Population:

• Age — Median=8 years
• Race/Ethnicity — Not specified
• Gender — Not specified
• Status — Participants were families whose child had been removed by child welfare authorities due to abuse or neglect between December 2003 and July 2005.

Location/Institution: Texas

Summary: (To include basic study design, measures, results, and notable limitations)
The purpose of the study was to address the impact of Family Group Decision Making (FGDM). Participants were families receiving FGDM services compared to families that did not receive FGDM services. Measures utilized include survey data from parents, relatives, and children's caregivers as well as administrative case demographic and outcome data assessing satisfaction, child well-being, and exits from care. Results indicate that exits from care were faster if families participated in FGDM and exits to reunification were increased; this may be especially true of African American and Hispanic children. For example, 32% of African American children whose families attended an FGDM conference had returned home, relative to 11% whose families attended a Permanency Planning Team meeting. Forty percent of Hispanic children from families participating in FGDM had returned home compared to 13% participating in traditional services. Also, both parents and relatives are more satisfied with FGDM than standard practice on a number of dimensions, with relatives reporting feeling more empowered than parents. Children are reported to be less anxious if their families participate in FGDM. Limitations included non-randomization of participants and limited follow-up length for child welfare exits.

Length of controlled postintervention follow-up: Varies.

Godinet, M. T., Arnsberger, P., Li, F., & Kreif, T. (2010). Disproportionality, Ohana Conferencing, and the Hawai'i Child Welfare System. Journal of Public Child Welfare, 4(4), 387–405. https://doi.org/10.1080/15548732.2010.526898

Type of Study: Pretest–posttest study with a nonequivalent control group (Quasi-experimental)
Number of Participants: 370

Population:

• Age — Approximately 8 years
• Race/Ethnicity — 32% Hawaiian/Pacific Islander and 68% Other Races
• Gender — 53% Female and 48% Male
• Status — Participants were children involved with child welfare system in Hawaii in 2004-2005.

Location/Institution: Hawaii

Summary: (To include basic study design, measures, results, and notable limitations)
The purpose of the study was to examine the role of ‘Ohana Conferencing [also called Family Group Decision-Making (FGDM)] in mitigating negative outcomes once a child is in the system. Participants were those who received ‘Ohana conferencing and those who did not. Measures utilized include an administrative subset of the files from the Hawaiian Department of Health and Human Services to determine the role of ‘Ohana Conferencing in mitigating negative outcomes in the child welfare system, such as re-entry and multiple placements. Results indicate that Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander children are not overrepresented in the Hawaiian child welfare system. Limitations include small sample size (only 44 cases had received ‘Ohana Conferencing), missing data, and lack of generalizability to other ethnic populations.

Length of controlled postintervention follow-up: Not specified.

Rauktis, M. E., Huefner, J., & Cahalane, H. (2011). Perceptions of fidelity to Family Group Decision-Making principles: Examining the impact of race, gender, and relationship. Child Welfare, 90(4), 41–59. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ967186

Type of Study: Other quasi-experimental
Number of Participants: 2,820

Population:

• Age — Birth–15 years
• Race/Ethnicity — 1,894 White, 567 African American, and 359 Other
• Gender — 1,488 Male and 1,332 Female
• Status — Participants were children referred due to child maltreatment who were residing at home and experienced Family Group Decision Making (FGDM) meetings.

Location/Institution: Pennsylvania

Summary: (To include basic study design, measures, results, and notable limitations)
The purpose of the study was to explore the perceptions of fidelity to family group principles using comparative information from participants of the Family Group Decision Making (FGDM) meetings. Measures utilized include the Achievement of FGC Objectives questionnaire. Results indicate that White respondents felt there was a greater degree of fidelity than did the African American respondents, with other race respondents sometimes rating similarly to both White and African American respondents. Professionals generally perceived a greater level of fidelity and there were significant race by respondent interactions. Limitations include concerns regarding generalizability due to self-selection, lack of information on the response rate, and lack of information on outcomes.

Length of controlled postintervention follow-up: None.

Wang, E. W., Lambert, M. C., Johnson, L. E., Boudreau, B., Breidenbach, R., & Baumann D. (2012). Expediting permanent placement from foster care systems: The role of Family Group Decision-Making. Children and Youth Services Review, 34(4), 845–850. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2012.01.015

Type of Study: Pretest–posttest study with a nonequivalent control group (Quasi-experimental)
Number of Participants: 80,690

Population:

• Age — Mean=5.3 years
• Race/Ethnicity — 38% Hispanic, 33% Anglo, 6% African American, 2% Other/Unknown, 0.3% Asian, and 0.3% Native American
• Gender — 50% Male and 50% Female
• Status — Participants were in the child welfare system and had been removed from their home and placed in care for longer than 3 days.

Location/Institution: Texas

Summary: (To include basic study design, measures, results, and notable limitations)
The purpose of the study was to focus on the impact of Family Group Decision-Making (FGDM) on expediting youths' exits from the foster care system through family reunification, permanent placement with relatives, or adoption using a sample of youths in foster care. Participants were youth receiving FGDM compared to those who did not receive FGDM. Measures utilized include the Texas Concept-Guided Risk and Safety Assessment. Results indicate that FGDM after removal increased the odds of achieving the desired outcome of placement with family (reunification with family or placement with relatives) compared to adoption. Results also indicate that, although FGDM after removal did not decrease time to permanency, neither did they significantly increase time to permanency. Limitations include the lack on randomization, concerns regarding generalizability, and the large number of children who did not exit care during the study.

Length of controlled postintervention follow-up: Varied by individual.