Family Focused Meetings  

Foundation: FFMs are a formal family engagement strategy to work toward solutions. Families are best served when they are actively engaged and their voices are heard, valued, and considered with regard to decision.

Overview Provided by HHS 

Service Delivery Timeline

Definition: “Family Focused Meeting” or “FFM” means a gathering of family members, friends, formal and informal supports, with the assistance of the meeting facilitator, to draw on past successes of the family in problem solving and work in partnership with the family to enhance the safety of children. Motivational Interviewing, family engagement and relapse prevention strategies will be utilized in the facilitation of the meeting.

Purpose/Goal Outcome: Family Focused Meetings bring the family together with their formal and informal supports to address safety, permanency, and well-being for the children. During the initial Family Focused Meeting, HHS and FCS meet with the family to address immediate needs and begin talking with the family about goals for the case. The goal of this meeting is to support the family in identifying initial steps to begin stabilizing the family and working toward case plan goals. During the comprehensive Family Focused Meeting, the family and their supports gather with HHS and FCS to celebrate the family’s early successes, identify additional strengths upon which to build, and continue to discuss next steps. The family’s goals are formalized into a plan that sets out objectives and activities the family and their supports will complete collaboratively to achieve positive outcomes.

Training Materials

FFM Outline Note Taking

Confidentiality Agreement