19.19 Genogram

Georgia State Seal

Georgia Division of Family and Children Services
Child Welfare Policy Manual

Chapter:

(19) Case Management

Policy Title:

Genogram

Policy Number:

19.19

Previous Policy Number(s):

N/A

Effective Date:

March 2023

Manual Transmittal:

2023-01

Codes/References

N/A

Requirements

The Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) will:

  1. Utilize the genogram as an information-gathering tool to produce a visual representation of the family to:

    1. Assess family functioning;

    2. Understand family dynamics and history;

    3. Help the family develop insight regarding their strengths and challenges;

    4. Identify absent parents, relatives, fictive kin, and other committed individuals as part of the diligent search; and

    5. Identify individuals in the family network who may be available to provide support to the family. This includes any natural helpers, friends, confidants, etc.

  2. Develop the genogram in partnership with the family in the Child Protection Services assessment phase of a case (Family Support Services and Investigations). This includes Special Investigations when the alleged victim child is in the legal custody of the caregiver.

    Genograms are not required in Special Investigations involving children in DFCS custody, residential or non-residential facilities, and public or private non-residential schools.

  3. Engage the family face-to-face to construct the genogram, that:

    1. Is hand-drawn;

    2. Depicts at least three generations of the maternal and paternal family; and

    3. Embraces cultural differences when considering who is family.

  4. Review the genogram with the family in each subsequent program area (Family Preservation Services, Foster Care and Adoption):

    1. Determine if there are any updates

    2. Amend or update the genogram based on the review

      Following the initial hand-drawn genogram updated or amended genograms can be computer-generated.

    3. Review the amended or updated genogram with the family to ensure it accurately reflects their family.

  5. Document all genogram activities in Georgia SHINES within 72 hours of completion including uploading to External Documentation.

Procedures

Social Services Case Manager

  1. Prepare for the development of the genogram:

    1. Review the family history.

    2. Familiarize with genogram symbols, which serve as a form of shorthand that supply additional insight into the family and support network (e.g., gender, family relationships, children, and death) (see Forms and Tools: Genogram Symbol Sheet).

    3. Have a blank paper and pencil or pen accessible.

  2. Conduct a face-to-face meeting with the parent, caregiver, or child as appropriate to develop the genogram:

    1. Explain to the family:

      1. A genogram is a visual representation of your family and extended family; and

      2. The purpose of the genogram is to provide a map or diagram of what your family looks like, an opportunity to map your family history, and identify your family support system.

    2. Create the hand-drawn genogram depicting at least three generations of the maternal and paternal family. Use a question mark (?) to reflect any unknown detail. Embrace cultural differences when considering who is family.

      1. Obtain information on the interviewee.

        1. Ask for the legal name, aliases, and date of birth.

        2. Utilize symbol to record gender and indicate age.

      2. Obtain information on the interviewee’s parents.

        1. Ask for the legal names, dates of birth or age, and if still alive.

        2. Utilize symbols to record parents’ gender, relationship status (i.e., married, divorced, separated) and indicate age or death.

        3. Ask who raised them if not the biological parents.

      3. Obtain information on the interviewee’s parent’s siblings.

        1. Ask for the legal names, dates of birth or age, and if still alive.

        2. Utilize symbols to record parents’ siblings’ gender and indicate age or death.

      4. Obtain information on the interviewee’s siblings.

        1. Ask for the legal names, dates of birth or age, and if still alive.

        2. Utilize symbols to record siblings’ gender and indicate age or death.

      5. Obtain information on the interviewee’s current spouse or partner.

        1. Ask for the legal name, date of birth or age, relationship status (i.e., married, intimate/unmarried) and year of marriage (if applicable).

        2. Utilize symbols to record current spouse’s/partner’s gender and indicate age.

        3. Utilize symbols to record relationship status and year of marriage (if applicable).

      6. Obtain information on the interviewee’s former spouses or partners if there are children in common.

        1. Ask for the legal names, dates of birth or age, relationship status (i.e., separated or divorced), and if still alive.

        2. Utilize symbols to record former spouse’s/partner’s gender and indicate age or death.

        3. Utilize symbols to record relationship status and year of separation or divorce.

      7. Obtain information on the interviewee’s children.

        1. Ask for the legal names, dates of birth or age, and if still alive.

        2. Utilize symbols to record gender and indicate age or death.

        3. Align children with biological parents.

        4. Align children from left to right (oldest to youngest).

      8. Obtain information on the interviewee’s grandchildren.

        1. Ask for the legal names, dates of birth or age, and if still alive.

        2. Utilize symbols to record gender and indicate age or death.

      9. Obtain information on unrelated household members.

        1. Ask for the legal names and dates of birth or age.

        2. Utilize symbols to record gender and indicate age.

        3. Capture their information on the bottom right of the genogram.

      10. Obtain information on natural helpers, friends, confidants, and unrelated committed individuals.

        1. Ask for the legal names and dates of birth or age.

        2. Utilize symbols to record gender and indicate age.

        3. Capture their information on the bottom right of the genogram.

      11. Ask the interviewee to identify everyone on the genogram who resides in the home.

        1. Place a dotted line around identified household members.

        2. This will not include the unrelated household members or natural helpers, friends, confidants, and unrelated committed individuals located at the bottom right of the genogram.

    3. Explore whether there are other family members that may be helpful in obtaining information to complete the picture of the family over three generations.

    4. Review the genogram with the family members to ensure it accurately reflects their family tree. Make corrections as needed.

  3. Document the development of the genogram with the family in Georgia SHINES. Upload the hand-drawn genogram into External Documentation.

  4. Review the genogram with the family when the case progresses to each subsequent program area:

    1. Ask the interviewee if there are changes to the family (i.e., births or deaths).

    2. Confirm whether relationship status with spouse or partner remain the same.

    3. Verify the household members and if there are new household members.

    4. Ask if there are changes to, or additional natural helpers, friends, confidants, and unrelated committed individuals.

    For cases progressing to foster care, if an approved provider will complete the CCFA, compare the genogram submitted with the CCFA and genogram in the case record and resolve any discrepancies with the family. If the CCFA will be completed by the SSCM, the current genogram will be reviewed with the family in conjunction with the completion of the CCFA.

  5. Amend or update the genogram based on the review with the family. Review the updated genogram with the family members to ensure it accurately reflects their family tree.

    The updated or amended genograms can be computer-generated.

  6. Document the review of the genogram with the family in Georgia SHINES. Upload the amended or updated genogram (hand-drawn or computer generated) into External Documentation, if applicable.

Social Services Supervisor

  1. Ensure that a genogram is completed for each family in each program area.

  2. Review genogram(s) uploaded in Georgia SHINES External Documentation to confirm completion and accuracy (i.e., hand-drawn, at least three generations of maternal and paternal family, identifies household members and natural helpers, etc.).

  3. Ensure the SSCM reviews, updates, and amends the genogram with the family in each program area.

  4. Assist the SSCM with using the genogram to support case assessment, case planning, identification of support network for the family, diligent search, etc.

Practice Guidance

The construction of a genogram with the family is an important component of Georgia’s Practice Model. The genogram is a visual representation of a child’s current and extended family which is a useful tool that can support child welfare practice in various ways including:

  1. Family engagement

  2. Clarifying family relationships

  3. Identifying household composition safety and family functioning assessments as well as case planning

  4. Determining the family stage

  5. Facilitating diligent search efforts

  6. Identifying a potential voluntary kinship caregiver, placement resource, permanency resource, visiting resource, and/or support network

  7. Providing critical information regarding a child’s life history

Construction of the genogram should begin early in the life of the case as it is invaluable in clarifying and documenting family relationships. Completing the genogram with the family is an effective strategy for engaging the family as it encourages a more inclusiveness and provides an opportunity to demonstrate the SSCM’s interest in the family. Embrace cultural differences when considering who is family. Kinship relationships should be respected based on the family’s cultural values and emotional ties.

The genogram may also be used as a conversation-starter to explore additional information about culture, religion, ethnicity, behavioral and emotional relationship patterns, strengths, supports and everyday tasks that present challenges for individuals within the family. As more information emerges so does the relationship context.

The construction of the genogram should make sense to the family, or it can appear intrusive. Therefore, the SSCM should provide a clear explanation of the purpose, process, and symbols to the family. The diagram should be hand-drawn during face-to-face contact to promote family engagement. The genogram construction should always clearly reflect the name, age, gender, and relationship of family members over three generations; and must identify family members who comprise the household; and non-relatives and fictive kin identified as “family”. During construction, inquire about other family members that may provide additional information to include in the genogram. A review of the hand-drawn genogram with the family is required for completion and accuracy.

If the hand-drawn genogram is converted into a computer-generated version, it should be clearly explained to the family it was created from the hand-drawn version developed with the family. Updates or amendments to the genogram (hand-drawn or computer-generated) must be made in partnership with the family. A review of the updated or amended genogram with the family is required for completion and accuracy. It should also be clearly documented that the genogram was reviewed with the family.

Forms and Tools

Genogram Symbol Sheet