We are all born and live in families. Every family is unique with its own culture, personalities, individual dynamics and history. Every family goes through difficulties and problems every now and then. There are difficult situations related with children, youth, parents, older people in the family which might be sorted out easily with the support of relatives and friends. There are also cases when some help from health specialists, educational institutions, social services or other agencies could be necessary.
The Family group conference is a way to find out solutions to various problems when children, parents, members of the extended family, friends come together to make a plan. It is based on an old traditional and easy to understand concept – the power of the family circle. The family conference provides an opportunity chance for the family to get together, mobilize its own strengths and resources and to make the best possible plan to overcome the problems of a child or another member of the family. The members of the family take the decisions and the responsibilities. The professional do not decide – they provide the necessary information, support and services.
Tulip Foundation laid the fundament for the application of the method Family Group conference in Bulgaria in 2011 with the Trust in the Family Programme with partnership of Eigen Kracht Centrale. Tulip Foundation is an active member of the EU FGC network.
The European FGC network has its spring virtual meeting for years now. It is a good learning and sharing event in between live meetings. Tulip Foundation hosted the meeting which took place on 14 and 15 March. Together with some 30 colleagues form 11 European countries we talked about recent developments and newly identified topics. The key topics for Open space sessions included mediation during preparation phase, techniques/ methods applied; resolving conflicts within family groups; systemic Resistance to changes; exchange of experiences and ideas between countries which are at the moment in the very beginning and in the implementation process of FGC - obstacles and where do you get support from; FGC in a domestic violence – a case where the father had killed the mother; global trend – people talk less and less with other people; family reluctance to engage with FGC, what should be done, when an “important” person of the FGC-scene is leaving the stage.
