Our Programs
- Functional Family Therapy Foster Care
- Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC)
- Center for Refugee and Immigrant Services (CRIS)
- Long Term Foster Care (LTFC)
- Foster Family Recruitment
- Youth Transition Services
- Education Support Services
- Family Development & Support Services
- Pathways Academy
- Consultation & Training
About our Functional Family Therapy Foster Care Program (FFT-FC)
Functional Family Therapy Foster Care Program (FFT-FC)
Functional Family Therapy Foster Care (FFT-FC) is a clinical model utilized by all Connecticut Child Placing Agencies for the Therapeutic Foster Care Programs. This model will replace all prior TFC, TFC Medically Complex, and Family and Community Ties programs previously operated under DCF contract. FFT-FC is an evidence based in-home clinical intervention with a relational focus on the family unit for DCF-involved children, ages 6-17 years, with approval for youth receiving Services Post Majority by DCF. Licensed Therapists provide an in-home clinical level of treatment using the FFT-FC model, in collaboration with foster parents who are highly skilled and trained. Foster parents receive intensive clinical training and support from a Child Placing Agency (CPA), in order to help children, stabilize in placement, ameliorate their social emotional struggles and achieve permanency. CPA’s and Foster Parents work in coordination with DCF and birth families in order to ensure a successful reunification. TFC also provides in-home intensive services post reunification. The expected duration for FFT-FC service provision is 6 to 9 months in placement with an additional 3 to 4 months of clinical treatment when the youth reunifies.
Program goals
- Developing Strategies to Improve Communication, Problem-Solving, and Decision-Making
- Decrease Negativity and Blame
- Helping Families Identify Natural Resources and Support
- Maintain and Generalize Changes; Prevent Relapse
- Improving Family Relationships
- Helping Families Members Develop Solutions to Family Problems
- Creating Stability for the Child and Foster Family until Permanency is Achieved
- Achieving Permanency
Services
Foster Care: Recruits, screens, trains, approves, and works in conjunction with our families to provide shelter, care, love, in a therapeutic environment for children that we serve. TFC is the largest non-profit Therapeutic Foster Care Program in Connecticut and is funded through the State of Connecticut Department of Children and Families on a per diem basis.
Kinship Care (Relative Foster Care Services): Kinship Care involves the identification of relatives that will provide foster care services for young family members in need of care. Relative foster parents go through the same training process offered under the TFC program and continue to receive support from TFC clinicians and case management staff.
Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC): ICPC services ensures the protection and services to children that are placed in Connecticut from other states for foster care or as a preliminary to adoption. ICPC services also includes training and licensing for families to become therapeutic foster parents in order to meet the needs of the arriving child.
Program Highlights
- In-home family therapy provided by Licensed Masters Social Worker (LMSW) clinicians.
- Children are provided with safe and therapeutic home settings in which to live until a permanent family situation can be determined.
- LMSW clinicians continuously assess children for abuse, neglect, and early signs of mental illness throughout their involvement in the program from pre-placement to discharge.
- Experienced program staff collaborates with other private, state, and national agencies to maintain and encourage the highest level of practice in terms of foster care.
- Clinicians prepares foster children for return home or for placement in a stable, nurturing environment that is to be permanent, and when this is not possible, prepares them for independent living and helps identify significant adults with whom relationships can be maintained.
- No more than one or two youth are placed in our foster homes, unless special considerations are made for sibling groups.
- 24/7 support is available to foster parents and children placed in the home to address emergency situations.
- Specialized pre-placement and ongoing quarterly foster parent training is provided for foster parents to address the emotional, behavioral, and educational needs of children placed in our homes.
- Short-term respite care is provided for foster parents who need a break.
- All foster parents receive a generous foster parent stipend.
- Clinical oversight of the program provided by Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) clinical supervisors.