Family Team Meetings Give Parents Important Voice in Ongoing Child Safety

“Nothing about them without them.” With this mantra in mind, Franklin County Children Services takes a team approach when it comes to helping keep children safer while supporting families to make them stronger… and parents have an important voice in the process.

As families become more involved in the child welfare system, FCCS organizes Family Team Meetings, where those who care most about a youth’s wellbeing can work together on finding the least intrusive, best-supportive plans for safety and stability.

“Our families need to know they are not alone in their circumstances,” said Stacie Pelton, a Social Program Coordinator who facilitates many of the agency’s Family Team Meetings. “A team meeting is an opportunity for them to have all their support people communicating as team at the same time.” 

In 2024, FCCS conducted more than 1,200 of these Family Team Meetings, bringing together family members, service teams, caregivers, and sometimes school counselors and guardians ad litem.

Having everyone who has an interest in the case at the “virtual table” increases the likelihood that families will have a realistic and achievable plan in place that will lead to lasting safety and stability for children, added Joe Humaney, Associate Director of the Policy and Performance Support Division. 

There’s a lot to talk about: what supportive services are available to families, updates on medical issues, progress on treatment plans, concerns from each party, and more. And one of great benefits of these meetings is creating transparency

“Families have frank discussions with their service teams,” said Mr. Humaney. “The facilitator’s job is to remain neutral and ensure that everyone participates. Parents can express their concerns and service teams take note of successes and adjust case plans accordingly.” 

This open communication helps dispel some of the myths about child welfare agencies. According to Leslie Greenwood, a Social Program Manager, “We provide a realistic view of how we work with service providers to give families the tools they need so we no longer need to be involved in their lives.”

As urgent as the sound, Critical Event Family Team Meetings are held to enable children experiencing behavioral or mental health issues to thrive in a home setting, instead of the need to be placed in a congregate care setting. 

A common scenario for one of the critical event meetings, according to Ms. Greenwood, is when a child is set to be discharged from a hospital where they were treated for behavioral health concerns, but their parents or caregivers fear they won’t be able to cope when the child returns home. 

“We talk things out and bring in representatives from supportive services so they can see the faces of the people who will work with them,” said Ms. Greenwood. “It’s beneficial for families who feel overwhelmed and need time to ensure their child can come home and parents are prepared to keep them safe.” 

Last year, FCCS assembled 107 of these critical event meetings. For Mr. Humaney, the conversations are important in giving families a real path toward healing. 

“Often, when kids enter residential treatment, they improve, but then revert to previous behavior when they come home. We help parents understand that that helping the children within their homes has the best outcomes.” 

The meetings are most beneficial when youth participate, shared Ms. Greenwood. “You get more buy-in from the kid, if you can get them on the call, listen to their story, and make sure they understand what’s happening.” 

The Family Team Meeting model continues to prove successful. Of the critical event meetings held in 2024, nearly half of the cases were closed, and less than 1 in 8 of the youth involved needed to enter a residential care facility.