What is Family Governance?

The term “family governance” is relatively new and thus has not been clearly defined within the existing body of research literature.  Our concept of family governance is drawn in part from a 2009 forum on family governance conducted by Community Living British Columbia (CLBC) facilitated by Dr. Michael Kendrick (2009).  In CLBC’s forum summary report, Think Tank on Collective Family Governance, ‘collective family governance’ is broadly defined as a way for “families to work together to identify and meet their needs.” (See also Kendrick, M., 2011 CRU).  The CLBC report outlines a number of consumer-directed service options, including 3 collective models:

  • Unincorporated/unaffiliated, collectively governed mini-projects to create individualized and other service arrangements

  • Collectively member governed organizations to create individualized and other service arrangements [e.g. incorporated cooperatives and mini-agencies]

  • Agency hosted, unincorporated, collectively member governed organizations to create individualized and other service arrangements

(CLBC 2009, p. 5)