Child and Family Team and 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 youth’s parent, the youth’s caregiver,
the youth’s 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 youth’s life to determine how best to address the youth’s needs and
achieve positive outcomes of safety, permanency, and well-being.
Child and Family Teams must involve the youth in the planning process, particularly when
entering foster care or undergoing treatment. Each youth’s and family’s CFT process
should reflect their own unique culture and individual preferences.
Additional description/language here.