Children's participation in Family Group Conference as a resolution model

Abstract

Family Group Conference (FGC) is a resolution model which is implemented by Child Welfare in many countries throughout the world. Some of them have the right to be offered an FGC established by law. In an FGC the family and its network are given the opportunity to discuss and find what they consider to be the best solutions for the child. An FGC focuses on the child's situation who remains in the centre of the discussion. Decisions shall be in the best interest of the child, and the solution of the network must be approved by the Child Welfare Act in general. In the FGC it is also an aim to let children attend and participate in discussions regarding their own future. This article aims to draw attention to children's possibility to participate in FGC and the support figure's role to encourage the child to participate. The main issues are: What is the child perspective in FGC? What does it mean to participate in an FGC? In what ways can children participate in an FGC?