The alone time helps families begin to work together despite past differences and feel more ownership over the plan. Sometimes family problems make it difficult or impossible to hold family decision meetings. A meeting may not be held, for example, if the parent insists on vetoing a key participant. The agency is still discussing how to handle meetings where domestic violence is an issue. When families have a restraining order against an abusive member, that person may participate by speaker phone or in writing.
Custody disputes can also torpedo family meetings.
Despite these challenges, Kook says the family decision model is improving her agency's ability to strengthen families and protect children. Rallying support for an aunt One family decision meeting was called because a Native American aunt was not taking adequate care of her nephews. Social workers wanted the aunt to be more proactive in the children's education, but the aunt thought that would be disrespectful toward the teachers. At the meeting, the family encouraged her to participate and pledged to support her. And the tribe supported the decision.