The CIMH Cathie Wright Center is engaged in a number of efforts to promote the adoption of evidence-based practices that hold promise for improving outcomes for children and families. Our dissemination activities are most often delivered through a Development Team Model, that is a guided peer-to-peer training and technical assistance strategy that supports the enduring acquisition of knowledge, successful implementation of innovative practice, and sustained system change. Development Teams are composed of teams of individuals from multiple counties that consistently participate in a series of workshops with a specific area of focus.
Five California Counties have joined this CIMH Development Team to implement Functional Family Therapy. FFT, designed to treat adolescents with delinquent behavior, has very strong scientific support for its effectiveness. Outcomes documented by high level research includes:
- Reduces recidivism from 25-60%
- Reduction in violent behavior
- Reduces siblings’ entry into high risk behaviors
- Low drop out from treatment
- Reduces family conflict
- Improves family communication
- Improves parenting
More information on Functional Family Therapy is available at:
Functional Family Therapy Inc.
www.fftinc.com
The Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence
www.colorado.edu
Strengthening America’s Families
www.strengtheningfamilies.org