Child, Youth and Family partnered with Te Awatea Violence Research Centre at the University of Canterbury to look at the effectiveness of FGCs and what practices bring about positive outcomes for children and young people. Researchers talked to children, young people and their whānau/caregivers about their experiences and views of FGCs, and five of our sites shared their knowledge and experience.
Methodology
Data sources and methods included:
- Interviews with 9 children and young people and 16 of their family, whānau, or caregivers
- Related to 14 cases(10 Māori; 2 Pakeha; 2 Pacifica) involving a total of 18 children and young people
- Interviews with 15 CYF staff at five Child, Youth and Family offices
- Review of New Zealand and international studies of FGCs
- Review of CYF statistical data
- Consideration of findings from Child, Youth and Family internal review of FGCs (2012)
Key Results
There was substantial support and agreement that the FGC is an important and valuable decision making process for children and their whānau if implemented well. The report also states: ‘…if there is a lack of preparation, communication, follow-through and the sense that decisions have already been made whānau feel disempowered and do not find any benefit from going through the FGC process.’