Family Group Conference (FGC) is a model based process used for reaching a joint decision between families (including their childrens), professionals, and community members regarding the concerns that exist towards the children at risk. This process is led by a trained coordinator, who over a period of a few weeks accompanies the family and the people from the community who support them, in order to come together to build an intervention plan to improve the well-being of children and reduce risk. This model, carried out in several countries, was running as a pilot in Israel in several cities as a possible alternative to "decision committees" for children at risk. The pilot has been implemented with families from diverse cultural groups (e.g. Ultra orthodox, immigrants) and led by the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare, JDC-Ashalim and the Ministry of Immigration and Integration. The pilot itself carried out by Mosaica.
This research group was conducting a longitudinal evaluation study of mixed methods by interviewing parents, children, social workers, coordinators and supportive members from the community, during 2018-2021. In addition to understanding aspects of FGC practice, we also explored perceptions of risk and protection within cultural context and the relationship between the diverse communities and the welfare systems.
Research team: Prof. Dorit Roer-Strier, Dr. Orna Shemer, Dr. Yasmin Abud-Halabi, Dr. Yan Serdtse, Liraz Mizrahi-Levy, Gilat Biton, Vered Cohen, Hodaya Benitah, Mayan Omer, Ahlam Abo karen, Netanya Mischel, Ahmad Drawshy, Fatima Abu-sara, Jordan Shaibe, Hadar Baron.
For more information: Dr. Orna Shemer: orna.shemer@mail.huji.ac.il
Publications
Evaluation research reports
Evaluation research report- first year 2019:
שמר, א., רואר-סטריאר, ד. ועבוד-חלבי, י. (2019). דוח מחקר הערכה מעצבת- שנה ראשונה לביצוע התכנית "עולים לדרך"- מודל קד"ם (קבוצת דיון משפחתית). האוניברסיטה העברית, חממת נבט.
Evaluation research report- second year 2021:
שמר, א., עבוד-חלבי, '., סרדצה, י. ורואר-סטריאר, ד. (2021). דוח מחקר הערכה מעצבת- שנה שניה לביצוע התכנית "עולים לדרך- קד"ם" (קבוצת דיון משפחתית). שלב ההכנה וההיוועדות- מחקר משולב כמותני ואיכותני. האוניברסיטה העברית, חממת נבט.
Evaluation research report- Summary 2019-2021:
שמר, א., עבוד-חלאבי, '., סרדצה, י. ורואר-סטריאר, ד. (2022). דוח מחקר הערכה מעצבת - סיכום שלב הפיילוט לתוכנית "עולים לדרך - קד"ם" (קבוצת דיון משפחתית) 2019-2021. האוניברסיטה העברית, חממת נבט.
Theses & Publications
Baron, H. (2023). The Agentic Practices of Social Workers in the Context of the 'Family Group Conference (FGC)’ in Israel (Olim LaDerech -KEDEM Program). [Master's thesis, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem] (hebrew)
Shaibe, J., & Shemer, O. (2023). The outsider within: The agentic practices of Family Group Conference coordinators in the context of families with children at risk. Child & Family Social Work, 1–11. https://doi. org/10.1111/cfs.13114
Abu Sara, F. (2022). Perceptions of "Getting on Track- Family Group Conference (FGC)" Child Welfare Program Implementation among Parents. [Master's thesis, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem] (hebrew)
Darawshi, A. (2022). The Perceptions of Social Workers who Participated in “Olim Laderech )Getting on Track( – Kedem (FGC - Family Group Conference(” of the Social Worker-Parent Relationship and the Child's Protectedness and Their Assessment of the Program and its Results. [Master's thesis, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem] (hebrew)
Shaibe, J. (2022). The Perceptions and Agentic Practices of ‘Family Group Conference (FGC)’ Coordinators in Israel (Olim LaDerech - KEDEM Program). [Master's thesis, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem]
Benitah, H. (2021). Perceptions of service providers in Israel on the implementation of Family Group Conference (FGC). [Master's thesis, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem] (Hebrew)
Biton, G. (2021). Social Workers and Coordinators' Perceptions of Family Group Conference (FGC): Concerns, Relationships and the Quality of the Family Plan. [Master's thesis, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem] (Hebrew)
Cohen, V. (2021). Perceptions of participants on the stages of preparation and group conference in the Family Group Conference (FGC). [Master's thesis, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem] (Hebrew)
Mischel, N. (2021). Youths’ Perspectives on ‘Getting on Track – Family Group Conference (FGC)’ (Olim LaDerech – KEDEM Program). [Master's thesis, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem]
Mizrahi, L. (2021). The parent's perception ofFamily Group Conference (FGC) in relation to the relationship with the coordinator, the welfare system and the supporters, the degree of the child's risk and the quality of the planned family plan. [Master's thesis, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem] (Hebrew)
Omer, M. (2021). Perceptions of "Getting on Track - Family Group Conference (FGC)" Child Welfare Program Implementation among Families and Supporters. [Master's thesis, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem] (Hebrew)
Elkayam, M. N. (2019). Family Group Conference (FGC) in child welfare - Case Study in the Jewish ultra-orthodox community in Israel. [Master's thesis, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem] (Hebrew)
Gutman, D. (2019). Family Group Conference (FGC) in Child Welfare - Case Study of Immigrants from the Former Soviet Union and Immigrants from Ethiopia. [Master's thesis, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem]. (Hebrew)
