CASE STUDY: DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Restoring families through effective, evidence-based programs

Evidence-Based Associates (EBA) was engaged by the Justice Grants Administration (JGA) of Washington D.C., an office of the Mayor, to assist with the implementation of evidence-based practices Ð specifically Functional Family Therapy (FFT) Ð in the district. The implementation of the FFT teams occurred in the district in January 2010.

The primary purpose of the ÒPut Families FirstÓ project was to expand the provision of evidence-based programs (EBP) available to youth already in contact with police. A secondary purpose was to develop the capacity of the service provider organizations, Washington DC-based funding agencies, and the broader community in the District so that these agencies can, in the future, not only maintain quality EBP services with adherence to model standards but also, with minimal assistance, select and successfully implement other EBPs district-wide.

Over the course of this project, Washington, DC-area youth and families gained access to FFT programs, one in each of two provider agencies, each serving approximately 100 youth and families per year. Referrals came from the Department of Youth Rehabilitative Services (DYRS) and other child-serving agencies. "Successful outcomes" included the reduction of rearrest/recidivism rates and reductions in placements, as well as improvements in family functioning for youth involved in the project.

To provide oversight and management of project startup and implementation, EBA was hired to oversee the project. EBA is the only organization in existence with more than four years experience implementing a statewide project that included multiple EBPs in a juvenile justice setting, and that had agreements to represent three well-known, research-proven, home-based programs - Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care (MTFC), Functional Family Therapy (FFT) and Multisystemic Therapy (MST).

Put Families First was a two-year project that began in August 2009.