Family Engagement in Your Case
Why family engagement is important
- Children tend to have better outcomes when they are placed with kin. Those outcomes include:
- more likely to reunify with their parents,
- more likely for siblings to be placed together,
- less likely to come back into OKDHS custody after reunifying,
- more likely to remain in one placement, which is important for their needs such as education, and
- more likely to stay connected to kin.
How can my family be engaged?
- After kin have been assessed, if they are safe, there are many things they can do for a child in OKDHS custody, including;
- Providing placement – as discussed above, better outcomes for child;
- Permanent connections – it is important to child to have relationships with kin;
- Support –a support system can help parents keep their child safe;
- Family time – relatives can help with family time, also known as visitation; they can also spend time with the child themselves.
Family Meetings
- A family meeting (FM) is a meeting hosted by an OKDHS facilitator that includes parents, caregivers, relatives, child welfare specialists, tribal partners, service providers, and other supports.
- The purpose of a FM is to plan and make decisions together for the children and the family. It also involves and engages the family of the child in OKDHS custody and/or Family Centered Service case.
- Anyone on the case, including you, can request a FM for any reason.
- A FM should occur at least every six months but can be more frequent based on the needs of the family.
Select the image above for access the many resource available to your family.
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