FCT is a team approach delivered to youth and family in their home setting that is used to address serious and chronic emotional or behavioral issues for children (youth) who are unable to remain stable in the community without intensive interventions.
This service is used primarily as a step down from psychiatric residential services to aid the youth in rejoining a family setting, maintain behavior goals achieved in response to residential or inpatient treatment, support families in managing behaviors related to a Serious Emotional Disturbance, and prevent additional residential disruptions/removal from the home.
FCT services are multifaceted and include:
- Youth and family skills training
- Behavioral interventions
- Analysis of maladaptive behaviors that lead to home disruption
- Development of behavior plans
- Relationship building between youth and family members
- Active coaching with family members to identify and replace maladaptive behaviors with new positive behaviors
FCT highlights the importance of family voice and caregiver empowerment. The caregiver must be an active participant in the development of goals and delivery of interventions throughout treatment.
Interventions include “first responder” crisis response, as indicated in the care plan: 24 hours per day, seven days per week, services that are delivered by the team to address behavioral issues in real time and decrease reliance upon law enforcement or hospital interventions.
FCT Conditions for Services in Arkansas:
- Identification of at least one adult who is available* to participate in services inclusive of foster placement and pre/post adoption.
*FCT will work with voluntary and involuntary referrals. FCT practitioners are highly trained in techniques to engage with families who have been reluctant to engage in services. - At least one child between the ages of 4-17 with an identified Behavioral Health need for FCT service.
- The need to facilitate a successful reunification if the child(ren) are already placed out of the home, or to avoid out of home placement for the child(ren).
- PASSE Tier 2 or 3 to participate.
FCT Service Details:
- Treatment Intensity: an average of 4+ hours per week and 2+ sessions per week
- Treatment Duration: an average of 6 months of service. This may vary based on family need.
- Practitioner caseloads are limited to a max of five FCT cases at one time to ensure family needs are met.
