European Network on Family Group Conference
Family is asked to make a plan first
When family is missing
Eva was born when her mother was no longer able to take care of her two older siblings and was placed in an institutional care. She celebrated her first birthday in a foster family where she spent ten years. After the death of her foster mother, short-term foster parents were found for Eva, to whom she confided that she would like to meet her biological family. The social worker thought of using FGC.
The coordinator gradually visited Eva’s siblings and prepared them to meet together. The older brother and sister lived in children‘ s home, unfortunately separated. The younger sister grew up in kinship care. The coordinator also managed to contact the mother of the children and meet with her. Eva was accompanied to FGC by her new long-term foster parents. Mom of children did not attend the meeting after all, she was struggling with illness and loss of her home. However, during the preparation process, the coordinator made a video with her for the children and several photos were also taken, which were given to the children with their mother’s consent.
The meeting of the siblings was very touching They planned regular contacts, exchanged addresses, started a Facebook group, and a joint video and photos were taken at the meeting. But it also raised one big question. How is it possible that Eva had to wait eleven years to meet her family?
A story from the Czech Republic
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