reconstruction of the project

app/Models/FamilyCommPref.php

@@ -2,11 +2,15 @@
 
 namespace App\Models;
 
-use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Model;
+use App\Models\BaseModel;
 
-class FamilyCommPref extends Model
+class FamilyCommPref extends BaseModel
 {
     protected $table = 'family_comm_prefs';
+
+    // CI model didn't specify timestamps
+    public $timestamps = true;
+
     protected $fillable = [
         'family_id',
         'category',
@@ -16,5 +20,17 @@ class FamilyCommPref extends Model
         'created_at',
         'updated_at',
     ];
-    public $timestamps = true;
+
+    protected $casts = [
+        'family_id'         => 'integer',
+        'via_email'         => 'boolean',
+        'via_sms'           => 'boolean',
+        'cc_all_guardians'  => 'boolean',
+    ];
+
+    // Optional relationship
+    public function family()
+    {
+        return $this->belongsTo(Family::class, 'family_id');
+    }
 }