Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care-Adolescents
Problems addressed
Effectiveness

Effective

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Effective

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Life periods served
Where the program was applied
Country of application
Description

This is a therapy program for adolescents aged 12 to 17 with behavioral problems who live in foster care institutions, such as residential homes. The aim is to create opportunities for teenagers to live in a family environment and, at the same time, to help foster parents build effective parenting.
To this end, foster carers are encouraged to supervise the teenagers and promote positive involvement at school and in the community. The program includes training and support for foster parents, family therapy for biological parents, skills training and support therapy for adolescents, and school support focused on behavior and academic performance.
Participation in the program lasts between six and nine months. At the end, the teenagers return to their biological families and continue to be monitored by the program, usually for another year.

Impact evaluations

Impact evaluation studies have shown that the program has been effective to reduce criminal recidivism, participation in criminal activities, and days of incarceration [1] [2].

Bibliographic reference

[1] Chamberlain, P. & Reid, J. B. (1998). Comparison of two community alternatives to incarceration for chronic juvenile offenders. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 66(4), 624–633. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.66.4.624

[2] Chamberlain, P., Leve, L. D. & DeGarmo, D. S. (2007). Multidimensional treatment foster care for girls in the juvenile justice system: 2-year follow-up of a randomized clinical trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 75(1), 187–193. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.75.1.187

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