Overview
Family Centered Treatment (FCT) is an evidenced based treatment practice that is also trauma informed. FCT is a practice that honors and recognizes the entire family as that family is defined. FCT focuses on the family unit and not just one individual because we know that what impacts or has happened to one member of the family impacts the entire family. Therefore, for the entire family to heal and transform the whole of it must receive care and treatment.
FCT meets the family where they are! What that means is it is delivered in the home and at times that is convenient for the family. The FCT practitioners meet with the family at a minimum of twice weekly for two hours. The FCT program leads the family through four stages of treatment that last approximately 6 months and includes sessions with the entire family, and those that are separate with the child and/or parents individually. The FCT practitioner will also provide case management services as well. We meet families where they are and work diligently to connect them with the resources they need. Our goal is to support them in a way that reduces barriers, allowing them to fully engage in services that empower them to rebuild and strengthen their family.
Four Phases of Treatment
The four phases of treatment of FCT that a family moves through during the six months of treatment are as outlined below:
Phase 1: Joining and assessment. During this phase the practitioner is offering the family hope and respect as they assess motivation, recognize patterns and strengths, and identify trauma and the areas of need. During this phase the family is learning to trust the process, see the benefits of potential change, and identify goals and resources for success.
Phase 2: Restructuring. During this phase the practitioner helps the family practice experiences in session, identify patterns that do not work, and access for blocks that could impact change. The family is identifying new experiences, admitting change is hard, developing new trust/motivation for change, and taking advantage of their strengths and resources.
Phase 3: Valuing Change. During this phase the practitioner lets the family take more of the lead and being there to support them. The practitioner is helping the family see their value and advocating for changes the family has made. The family is learning to understand and value change over compliance, understand the changes made and the challenges they included, and giving back together as a family.
Phase 4: Generalization. During this phase the practitioner is moving to closure, reinforcing the confidence in the changes made, and helping the family predict future challenges and action. The family is adopting new skill sets, setting time to close, and predicting new challenges and identifying on-going resources.
Who Can Family Centered Treatment Help?
The FCT practice is designed to help families in many areas that include:
- Problem-solving
- Limit setting
- Enhanced Communication
- Stronger family relationships
- Creating a safe environment within the family
- Developing healthy boundaries
- Identifying and utilizing natural supports and resources
Family Centered Treatment (FCT) is designed for children and adolescents ages 5 and up. The children and adolescents who FCT will be most helpful may have experienced time in the child welfare or juvenile justice system (s), out of home placement that can include crisis stabilization stays, psychiatric residential treatment facility or other residential type treatment program. Children who are an appropriate referral for this program may also be experiencing significant behavioral or emotional challenges, due to abuse or neglect or other trauma, or other diagnosed mental health disorders to also include substance use disorders. Children referred may also have a parent or caregiver that has a mental health or substance use diagnosis, has been incarcerated, or been a victim of domestic violence.
The goal of FCT is to provide an alternative to out-of-home care for children and to keep families together. When that is not possible, the goal is to minimize the time children are in out of home placements and to reduce the risk of re-entry into out of home placements in the future.