Page 77 - JUSTICE Tackling Racial Injustice - Children and the Youth Justice System

better the chance for more positive outcomes for the child. Although all YOTs
carry out AssetPlus 220 assessments as the first stage of working with a child,
we were particularly impressed by the work of Young Hackney. In addition to
AssetPlus, their practitioners will encourage the child they are working with to
create a ‘cultural genogram’.

3.50 A genogram is a visual representation of a family tree that displays detailed
information on relationships between individuals. It allows a user to identify
and understand hereditary patterns and psychological factors that punctuate
relationships. Genograms use a range of symbols that can indicate family
relations (such as separation or affairs); emotional relationships (such as abuse
or neglect); medical conditions (such as HIV or autism); and addictions or
mental illness (such as alcohol or drug abuse or being in recovery for mental
illness). 221 In addition to this, cultural genograms provide data on the heritage
of family members, as the genogram below shows. 222

220 AssetPlus is an assessment and planning interventions framework developed by the Youth Justice
Board. Its aim is to provide a holistic end-to-end assessment and intervention plan, allowing one record
to follow a child or young adult throughout their time in the youth justice system.
221 ‘Genogram Basic Symbols’, GenPro.
222 Young Hackney, example Genogram. This diagram uses colours to identify nationality as it moves
through the family tree. It also shows a variety of things, such as specific emotional relationships and
health concerns. Although it is at first complicated to look at, it contains a wealth of contextual
information that is far easier to grasp than through writing a report.

70