FACE for Families
FACE for Families grew out of our realization that all too often the kind of offending behaviour dealt with by our local police is something that grew out of a dysfunctional family, or a family where one member no longer felt part of the family. This police involvement may well have been avoided if only the family had come together and faced what was going on (or not going on) in the family from day to day.
Situations where a family circle could help:
- teenagers feeling unheard or disrespected;
- children not respecting the house rules;
- constant arguing or no communication at all;
- work or financial stress that is affecting the whole family atmosphere;
- a recent illness or death that the family is trying to deal with.
How a Family Circle Works
Once a family agrees to come to a circle, one or two facilitators meet with the immediate family members individually to explain the circle process, discover who should be invited, and most importantly, get some agreement on what recent incident best represents the problem that the family is trying to deal with. This incident will be the focus of the circle.
The family is then invited to return to the circle in two or three months to review their agreement and, hopefully, celebrate their newfound success as a family.
Benefits of a family circle
Family circles offer:
- a chance for a family to sit together in a quiet and safe setting to catch their breath;
- a place where they listen to and begin to understand each other;
- a neutral setting where everyone can feel valued and comfortable saying what they have always wanted to say;
- the experience of what it is like to work together as a family;
- the hope of a fresh start backed up by the commitment of each family member.