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.

California counties work with CiMH and Treatment Foster Care Inc. to implement Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care (MTFC). MTFC is designed for adolescents with conduct and behavioral problems, including delinquency. It has very strong scientific research support that finds that it is an effective alternative to incarceration and group home placement. MTFC has been compared to residential placement and outcomes include greater reductions in recidivism, fewer elopements and improved treatment completion, reductions in drug and alcohol use, and improved school performance and emotional well being.

More information on MTFC can be found at:

Treatment Foster Care Inc.
www.mtfc.com

The Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence
www.colorado.edu

Strengthening America’s Families
www.strengtheningfamilies.org