Importance of Kinship Caregiver Participation in
Child and Family Team Meetings
The Child and Family Team (CFT) process is intended to engage the entire extended family system, which includes the child or youth, the parent, the caregiver, the relatives or formal family, and other people important to the family or to the child or youth, with the goal of providing safety and stability for the child or youth and the family. Child and Family Team meetings bring families together with natural supports, service providers, trusted community members, professionals, and others to support the child or youth. The purpose of a Child and Family Team meeting is to assemble the people involved in the child’s or youth’s life to determine how best to address their needs and achieve positive outcomes of safety, permanency, and well-being.
