CHILD WELFARE MANUAL

Section 4, Chapter 7 (Family Support Teams), Subsection 12 – FST Meeting Activities: Before, During, After

Effective Date:  1-30-2026

 

4.7.12 FST Meeting Activities: Before, During, After

 

Before the Meeting

Provide notice

  • Utilize the Family Support Team Meeting Notice (FST-2) when:
    • Providing initial notice to all meeting participants.
    • Providing notice to additional participants/supports (those not receiving section 3 of the FST-1) and to any new individuals invited to join the team in the future.
  • When possible, send the FST-2 at least 2 weeks prior to the meeting.
  • When an emergency FST meeting needs to be held, notify each participant as soon as possible.
  • Invitation via the FST-2 to the Initial FST meeting or emergency FST meetings may not be possible. In these circumstances when the invitation is extended, the worker should ask if an interpreter or other accommodation is needed, if safety is a concern or a court order is in place which prohibits contact between team members, if a parent or youth intends to bring supports to ensure appropriate accommodations are made and to advise that in-person participation is expected but when necessary and upon request, a virtual option may be available.
  • Providing a copy of the FST Meeting Team Member Task and Recommendations: Team Member Copy (section 3), (which includes the next FST meeting date and time) to a team member following a FST meeting is sufficient notice for the next FST meeting, therefore providing the FST-2 to those team members is not required.

Prepare documents

FST-1

  • Prepare and print pages 1 and 2 ahead of the meeting (invited participants, meeting type and agenda).
  • It is recommended that the FST-1 be completed electronically during the meeting, rather than handwritten. In section 2, expand only the applicable Permanency Planning and Assessment section relevant to the meeting type.

Additional Documents 

  • Documents which may need to be reviewed or referenced during the meeting (e.g., the prior meetings FST-1 to follow up on previously assigned action steps, Social Service Plan, Older Youth IAP, Parent-Child Visitation Plan).
  • Documents which may need to be completed during the meeting, if changes occur (e.g., Parent-Child Visitation Plan CD-85, Adolescent FST Guide (CD-94 Instructions)).
  • Documents to provide to Family Support Team meeting participants during each meeting.

 

During the Meeting

Open Meeting

  • Welcome participants to the meeting. 
  • Provide a copy of the FST brochure and Learn Your Rights brochure (CD-287) to each meeting participant. 
  • Read aloud the Privacy Statement located on the FST-1 form. 
  • Pass around the FST-1 (page 1) requesting all participants sign to verify their attendance, check yes or no to indicate agreement with the privacy statement and check yes or no to indicate they were provided or offered a copy of the FST Brochure and Learn Your Rights Brochure (CD-287). 
  • Provide introductions, if needed. 
  • State the purpose of the meeting and review the agenda.  
  • Provide opportunity for any team member to add an agenda item. 
  • When there is a need to protect the location of the child or another family member, make participants aware that no information shall be shared that could identify the location of the individual.

Discussion, Decisions and Documentation

  • Ensure each participant has opportunity for input, ideally beginning with the youth, parent(s) and guardian(s).
  • Ensure all applicable agenda items and each question in the Permanency Planning and Assessment (section 2) of the FST-1 are discussed and outcomes documented during the meeting. 
  • Document and assign team member action steps in the Team Member Tasks (section 3) of the FST-1.
  • Discuss and select CD/FCCM recommendations to be made to the court, when applicable, in Section 3 of the FST-1.
  • When the team is not in consensus with the recommendations, document the reasons for lack of consensus.

Wrapping up 

  • Read aloud the team member tasks (section 3) to ensure all participants are clear about what is expected.
  • Set and document the next FST meeting date, time and location (section 3). Refer to section 7.6 FST Timeline and Exceptions for scheduling requirements.
  • Notify participants a survey QR code is located on the FST Brochure, and each participant aged 12+ is encouraged to complete the survey. For participants who declined the FST brochure, bring their attention to the FST Poster which contains the survey QR code.
  • Dismiss and thank participants. 

 

After the Meeting

FST-1

  • Provide a copy of the completed FST Meeting Team Member Tasks and Recommendations: Team Member Copy (section 3) of the FST-1 to team members within 7 calendar days of the FST meeting. Refer to section 7.8 FST-1 Family Support Team (FST) Meeting Agenda (Distributing the FST Meeting Team Member Task and Recommendations: Team Member Copy) for more guidance.

FACES

  • Summarize information, decisions, assigned next steps, recommendations and lack of consensus in the Contact Communication Log. Use the purpose of ‘FST’ and tag all participants who attended the meeting.
  • Document when barriers are encountered to moving the case forward due to lack of a team member’s participation or lack of consensus.
  • Document when separate meetings are held and the reason why.
  • Document when a youth (age 12+) did not attend the meeting and why.
  • Complete all required information in the FST Meeting Information screen.
  • Document parent-child or sibling visitation changes in the Contact Communication Log. Refer to PA25-AC-04 for Parent-Child Visitation and FACES entry Refer to PA25-AC-05 for Sibling Visitation FACES Entry requirements, as applicable.
  • Update the Adolescent FST Guide or Youth’s IAP (CD-94) in FACES, as applicable.
  • Update the Social Service Plan (SSP) with parent progress, child updates, and case changes.

OnBase

  • Upload the FST-1 and any additional completed documentation. (e.g., Older Youth FST Guide (CD-94), Parent-Child Visitation Plan). Identify and index each document individually.

Court Report

  • Include relevant information and recommendations from the FST meeting.
  • Determine what information and recommendations must be included in the court report.

Service providers/School

  • Consider if any changes made during the FST meeting will impact any individual who is also working with the child or family. If so, communicate those changes to ensure streamlined service coordination.
  • Ensure a release of information is in place when sharing parent information. Refer to section 7.10 Protection of Information for more guidance.