Family Group Decision Making (FGDM) Specialist

DePelchin Children’s Center•Houston, TX

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Family Group Decision Making (FGDM) Specialist supports children, youth, families, caregivers, and stakeholders by coordinating and facilitating Family Group Decision Making, including Family Group Conferences, Permanency Conferences, and other family-centered planning meetings. Using a hope-centered, strengths-based approach, the Specialist engages families as partners in identifying goals, building pathways, strengthening natural supports, and developing plans that promote safety, permanency, well-being, and lifelong connections. The Specialist collaborates with Texans Together staff, caregivers, legal partners, service providers, and community stakeholders to support meaningful family participation in decision-making and plans that build on family strengths, culture, and support networks. The role promotes family voice, youth engagement, and shared responsibility while helping families identify practical solutions and resources. The position is office-based in Regions 6a and/or 6b, with specific work locations to be assigned. The schedule is Monday through Friday during standard business hours, with occasional travel.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required; relevant experience may be considered in lieu of the education requirement.
At least two years of experience in child welfare, family preservation, foster care, permanency, behavioral health, family engagement, case management, or a related human services field.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office suites and Information Management Protecting Adults and Children (IMPACT).
Knowledge of Family Group Decision Making principles and family-centered practice.
Knowledge of child welfare services, family systems, permanency planning, and community resources.
Knowledge of trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and strengths-based approaches.
Willingness to adopt the Science of Hope and its application to family engagement and child welfare practice.
Skill in facilitating meetings and group discussions involving diverse participants and complex family dynamics.
Strong verbal and written communication skills.
Strong engagement, relationship-building, and conflict-resolution skills.
Ability to establish trust and maintain effective working relationships with families, youth, caregivers, staff, and community partners.
Ability to gather and organize information and maintain accurate documentation.
Ability to manage multiple priorities while meeting required deadlines.
Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound professional judgment.

Nice To Haves

Experience facilitating meetings, working with families, and coordinating services.
Experience engaging diverse populations and community stakeholders.

Responsibilities

Receive and manage referrals for Family Group Decision Making services in accordance with program requirements and timelines.
Contact and engage children, youth, parents, relatives, caregivers, fictive kin, and other identified supports in the FGDM process.
Facilitate Family Group Conferences and other family-centered meetings to promote safety, permanency, well-being, and lifelong connections.
Prepare family members and stakeholders for meetings by explaining their purpose, clarifying expectations, addressing concerns, and encouraging meaningful engagement.
Promote a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment where participants can share perspectives and contribute to decisions.
Assist families in identifying strengths, resources, supports, and solutions to achieve desired outcomes.
Encourage youth voice and participation in planning whenever developmentally appropriate.
Collaborate with caseworkers, caregivers, providers, attorneys, schools, and community partners to support coordinated services and family-driven planning.
Identify and connect families to community resources and supportive services that strengthen family capacity and address identified needs.
Document meetings, family plans, participant involvement, and service outcomes in accordance with agency and contractual requirements.
Maintain accurate, timely, and complete records and enter required information into designated data systems.
Track meeting outcomes, identify barriers affecting family success, and communicate concerns to the supervisor as appropriate.
Assist families and stakeholders in resolving conflicts and building consensus around child and family needs.
Support efforts to strengthen family engagement, increase permanency connections, and improve outcomes for children and youth.
Participate in staffing, training, quality improvement activities, and professional development opportunities.