The use of family conferences at the psychiatric clinic of the Children's Medical Center

Abstract

This is a study of 1) the ways in which family conferences are used in the Psychiatric Clinic of the Children's Medical Center; 2) the social worker's feelings and attitudes about these conferences; 3) team relationships in these conferences; and 4) implications of the family conference for the casework relationship. In order to describe the conferences and explore the social worker's feelings and attitudes, information was sought in six general areas: 1) how the conferences were used by the clinic and therapists; 2) social worker's general knowledge and experience with family conferences; 3) factors in team relationships; 4) the client's reactions to the family conference; 5) implications of the family conferences for the casework relationship, and 6) the social worker's evaluation of family conferences in general.