Reducing Racial Disparities In Child Welfare through Family Group Conferencing: Participants’ Perspectives on What Needs to Happen

Background: Family group conferencing (FGC) has been promoted as one strategy to reduce racial disparities in child welfare (CW). FGC involves holding structured and facilitated meetings with families, informal family supports (e.g., extended family and friends), and formal supports (e.g., service providers) to make decisions and develop service plans. It is hypothesized to address disparities by being family-centered, strengths-based, and culturally responsive, yet empirical findings are mixed. This inconsistency may reflect variation in how FGC is implemented. This presentation shares findings from a qualitative study examining the following question: How should FGC be structured to respond to the needs of BIPOC families?

Methods: A multi-informant and inductive approach was used. Meeting facilitators distributed recruitment fliers to all FGC participants over a three-month period. Quota sampling ensured diversity regarding race/ethnicity, role, and meeting outcome. Data were collected through audio-recorded interviews with parents and informal supports, and focus groups with formal supports, CW caseworkers/supervisors, and meeting facilitators. Questions explored perspectives on how FGC can respond to the needs of families generally and BIPOC families specifically. Data were coded in Dedoose using consensus coding and analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s (2006) approach to thematic analysis. Two analytic strategies were employed: (1) Comparisons were made between White/non-Latine parents and informal supports and BIPOC parents and informal supports in their perceptions of how FGC can respond to the needs of parents generally, and (2) themes were identified in their perceptions of how FGC can respond to the needs of BIPOC families specifically. The sample (n = 66) included 23 parents, 17 informal/formal supports, 13 facilitators, and 13 caseworkers/supervisors; there were 37 White/Non-Latine parents/informal supports and 27 BIPOC parents/informal supports.

Results: The following themes emerged: Proactive critical reflection and preparation where, before the meeting, caseworkers and supervisors reflect on potential biases, disparities, and culturally responsive strategies; acknowledgment and validation of families’ experiences with interpersonal and systemic racism; obtain a deep understanding of race/ethnicity and culture by demonstrating cultural humility and exploring how race/ethnicity, culture, and lived experiences shape the family’s perspectives and needs; identify and address biases regarding how the families is perceived, treated, and evaluated; expect and respond to reactance by responding with empathy and validation when participants’ prior experiences lead to defensiveness, anger, and resistance to engage; utilize culturally responsive facilitators capable of creating a safe and supportive environment, advocating for families, and fostering constructive discussions of race/ethnicity and culture; provide high-quality translation services that are accurate, well-resourced, and familiar with CW concepts and terms; connect families with culturally responsive services when developing plans; and have the broader child welfare system be culturally responsive by developing policies, resources, and services that address structural barriers facing BIPOC families.

Conclusions: Findings highlight specific structural and facilitation practices that may strengthen the ability of FGC to respond to the needs of BIPOC families. Implications include the need for reflective pre-meeting preparation; facilitator and caseworker training on discussing race, identify biases, and recognizing and responding to reactance; and securing culturally responsive services (e.g., translation and treatment services).