Family
Finding
Webinar 1
Family Finding Overview &
Connection to Ontario’s
Provincial Framework
Presented by: Kevin A. Campbell, Founder Center for Family Finding
and Youth Connectedness
Permanency and Family Finding Expert, Seneca Center
© Kevin Campbell 2014
What is Family Finding?

Beliefs and strategies that connect children, youth
and parents to family and community supports

Legally mandated in Untied States

Helps keep children in foster care connected to
relatives and safe community supports

Prevents or shortens child’s placement

Quick notice to family that child is in care
© Kevin Campbell 2014
Why Family Finding?

Six step process to find, engage and organize
supports

Traditionally used for youth waiting the longest
in care in Canada and United States

Typically a fairly quick undertaking but can
take longer and require more time and effort
if a cold case or international family.

Permanent, safe, consistent, and affectionate
relationships

Based on Three Framework Ideas, Four Core
Beliefs and Six Steps.
© Kevin Campbell 2014
Three Framework Ideas
1.
International Tracing
2.
How big are families?
3.
Families are the most normative setting
for raising children (even those with the
most complex needs)
© Kevin Campbell 2014
International Tracing

Family Tracing was developed in 1943 to address
the experienced when a loved one went missing
during the War.

1949 - Article 26 of the Geneva Convention

The Red Cross implemented a worldwide network
to reconnect victims of war, civil un-rest and natural
disasters with loved ones
© Kevin Campbell 2014
How Big Are Families?

Overcoming idea that parents and children have
no family, or none that can help

The average family has between 100-300 members

Ontario has a high percentage of immigration,
unique dynamic of global families
© Kevin Campbell 2014
Families Are The Most Normative
Setting For Raising Children
(even those with the most complex needs)

Fight the idea that children and adolescents in the foster
care system are too sick or damaged to be raised in a
family.

Children in Canada’s foster care system make up less than
½ of 1 percent of all of the children in the country

15% of 1.2 million of all children in Canada are affected by
mental illness at any given point in time (MDSC, 2009).
Bands, challenged neighborhoods and schools to face a
broad range of adversity and raise children and
adolescents with needs every bit as complex as those we
see in foster care systems.
© Kevin Campbell 2014
Four Core Beliefs of
Family Finding
1.
Every child has a family, and they can be
found if we try
2.
Loneliness can be devastative, even
dangerous, and is experienced by most
children in out-of home care
3.
A meaningful connection to family helps a
child develop a sense of belonging
4.
The single factor most closely associated
with positive outcomes for children is
meaningful, lifelong connection to family
© Kevin Campbell 2014
Six Steps to Family Finding
1.
Discovery
2.
Engagement
3.
Preparation and Planning
4.
Decision Making
5.
Evaluation
6.
Follow on support
© Kevin Campbell 2014
Step One
Discovery

Find at least 40 or more relatives

Interview parents and youth
o
o

Focus on the goal of finding relatives
and supports
Find a family leader
Use technology as a way to connect
© Kevin Campbell 2014
Step Two
Engagement

Ask family members these questions:
o
o
how big is your extended family?
If you really wanted to know, who would you
ask first?

Build initial team of support

Stress urgency

Be transparent in your approach

Authentic family engagement
© Kevin Campbell 2014
Step Three
Preparation and Planning

Involve 12 or more family members in
Blended Perspective or Preparation
Meeting.

Professional supports should be present

Natural supports should be greater than
professional supports in these meetings
© Kevin Campbell 2014
Step Four
Decision Making

Those committed to create a plan meet
to explore resources

Consider making a commitment to
becoming a forever relationship (or
Lifetime Network of support)to the
children, youth and parent(s) involved
© Kevin Campbell 2014
Step Five
Evaluation

Participants consider a list of five questions
o
o
Tests their commitment to decision and
strategies
Tests the durability and strength of their
decisions and strategies
© Kevin Campbell 2014
Step Six
Follow on Support

Members meet to begin the process of
integration

Begin to offer support to children, youth
and parents.
© Kevin Campbell 2014
Canadian Challenges for
Family Finding

Different privacy laws in Canada that limit
internet based search

Social networking sites, and yellow pages are
searches typically used

Fastest way to 40 or more relatives is through
effective interviews with parents, youth and
relatives

Need clarity in Canada of “Right to Know”

Authentic engagement is key
© Kevin Campbell 2014
Family Meeting Practice &
Provincial Framework

Rapid approach to locate, engage and organize

Focus on the approach that best suites the situation

o
Early Help
o
Family Based Care
o
Youth in Care Transitioning to Adulthood
o
Citizen Engagement
o
A Culturally Specific Approach to Aboriginal Children and Families.
Family Finding supports and provides family resources to expand
participation:
o
Signs of Safety;
o
Anti-Oppressive Practice;
o
Trauma Informed and Attachment Work.
© Kevin Campbell 2014
Best Practice Values &
Family/Community Meeting
Approach vs. Traditional Approach

Limitations of traditional case work may isolate children
and parents.
o

May exclude aboriginal people, extended kinship groups
and siblings.
Child in the Context of Family, Anchored in Relationship,
Grounded in Community, Accessible, Inclusive and
Diverse; Collaborative and Responsive, Sharing
Responsibility, Focused on Action and Outcomes, that is
Sustainable with Subsidiarity.
© Kevin Campbell 2014
Resources

Research Briefs from Child Trends

Client Voices
http://www.childtrends.org/?publications=client-voices-youth-parentand-relative-perspectives-on-family-finding

Voices the Field
http://www.childtrends.org/?publications=voices-from-the-fieldstakeholder-perspectives-on-family-finding

Tips and Techniques for Effective Discovery
http://www.familyfinding.org/uploaded_files/fck/files/Child_Trends2011_12_01_RB_FamilyFindingTips.pdf

Tips and Techniques for Effective Family Engagement
http://www.familyfinding.org/uploaded_files/fck/files/Child_Trends2011_12_2011_RB_FamilytoTable.pdf

Does Implementation Differ When Serving Different Populations
http://www.familyfinding.org/uploaded_files/fck/files/Child%20Trends%2
0Oct%202011.pdf
© Kevin Campbell 2014
Upcoming Webinars

Family Finding 2 -Authentic Family Engagement:
Integration of a Family and Community Team
Meeting Practice in Case Work
Monday April 7, 2014 1:00pm to 3:00pm

Family Finding 3 - Impacts of Family Finding from
the Family/Youth Perspective
Monday April 28, 2014 1:00pm to 3:00pm

Family Finding 4 - Considerations for
Systemic/Organizational Approach with Family
Finding
Monday May 5, 2014, 1:00pm to 3:00 pm
© Kevin Campbell 2014
Thank You!
 More Family Finding resources available at:
http://www.familyfinding.org/
Kevin’s Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Family-Finding-Making-family-connections-for-children-inFoster-Care/359002318967
Waterloo’s Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Family-Finders-FACS-Waterloo/153726018079737
Thank you to OACAS and Waterloo F&CS in partnering to bring this four part
webinar series on Family Finding to all of you.
© Kevin Campbell 2014