What is a Family Case Planning Conference?

A Family Case Planning Conference (FCPC) is a collaborative planning meeting that can be called quickly by the Social Worker and must involve the Social Worker’s participation and sign-off of the resulting plan.

FCPCs are generally limited to 90 minutes and can address a wide variety of planning needs, including, but not limited to:

  • Child Safety planning to prevent children from coming into care.
  • Placement planning for children, including identification of Out of Care options.
  • Arranging visitation between the family and child removed from the home.
  • Reunification planning for children to go back to their biological family.

Who Requests a Family Case Planning Conference?

MCFD and Delegated Aboriginal Agency Social Workers can make a referral for SIWS to facilitate a Family Case Planning Conference (FCPC) when they would like to use a collaborative process to identify the next steps to address identified child safety concerns.

FCPC is used for Aboriginal families who have an open child protection file with MCFD or a Delegated Aboriginal Agency.

Would you like to organize a Family Case Planning Conference?

What is Involved?

The SIWS Family Advocate is a neutral coordinator / facilitator who will:

  • Work with the MCFD or Delegated Agency Social Worker to clarify child safety concerns and confirm the goal of the FCPC.
  • Identify family and community members to participate in the FCPC.
  • Facilitate a collaborative planning meeting that ensures all family participants and Social Worker are actively involved and heard.
  • Support participants to agree on immediate issues and safety concerns and the next steps to address them.
  • Ensure that the resulting plan is agreed to and signed off by the attending Social Worker.
  • Document the plan and assist with monitoring its implementation.

What are the outcomes?

A Family Case Planning Conference results in:

  • Agreement on family strengths, issues that need to be addressed, next steps to address identified child safety concerns and, if need be, a plan for child placement and access.
  • Greater participation and buy- in by the family, community, and Social Worker, resulting in a much higher likelihood of successful plan implementation.
  • A collaborative alternative to mediation or court processes where plans can be reached quickly.
  • Improved relationships between families, communities, and Social Workers.
  • A reduction in Child Safety concerns, thereby reducing the number of children in care.

Have a Referral?

If you know an individual or family who you feel could benefit from these services, please complete a referral form. For any questions, please contact us at:

For youth under the age of 25.

For families currently involved with the Ministry of Child & Family Services.

For general support requests and one-to-one support for adults. For example: addictions, mental health, resource connections etc.