Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care (MTFC) is a Blueprints for Violence Prevention model program which provides an alternative to hospitalization, incarceration or residential treatment for youth exhibiting delinquent or antisocial behaviors, emotional disorders or who suffer from multiple failed out of home placements. Designed by the Oregon Social Learning Center, MTFC is a well documented and demonstrably effective, evidence based practice.
As an alternative to more costly and less effective interventions the implementation of MTFC in communities constitutes good public policy. Peter Greenwood of the Rand Corporation reports that of all major evidence based practices with youth population, MTFC provides more crime reduction per dollar spent than any other intervention.
MTFC foster families care for one youth at a time, providing a highly structured system of rewards in their home. MTFC therapists work closely with the youth’s family of origin while other MTFC therapists work with the youth. Using a well organized and highly effective system of communication the MTFC team creates a well orchestrated system of positive structures around the youth. By encouraging positive behaviors in a consistent manner, youth participants quickly discover not only the payoff for positive behaviors but more importantly the emotional high and contribution to sense of self produced by such behaviors. As the youth progresses in her or his internalization of socially positive attributes, and as the family responds to family intervention, the youth is gradually reunited with his or her family – a process that usually takes about nine months.
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