Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care
MTFC is a cost-effective alternative to regular foster care, group or residential treatment, and incarceration for youth who have problems with chronic disruptive behavior. MTFC is a relatively non-restrictive community-based placement that can be used in lieu of residential or group care or that can be used for youth transitioning back into the community from such settings.
- MTFC can be implemented by any agency or organization providing services to children with serious behavior problems and their families and experience or interest in serving youth in the foster care system.
- MTFC provides parent training and other services to the biological families of treated youths, helping to improve family relationships and reduce delinquency when youths return to their homes.
- Community families are recruited, trained and supported to provide well-supervised placements and treatment. MTFC parents are part of the treatment team along with program staff.
- MTFC youth spent 60 percent fewer days incarcerated at 12-month follow-up, had significantly fewer subsequent arrests, ran away from their program three times less often, had significantly less hard drug use, and had quicker community placement from more restrictive settings.
- Results showed that youth spent significantly fewer days in lock-up during a one- and two-year follow-up study and significantly fewer youth were ever incarcerated following treatment.
Learn more about MTFC
Visit MTFC's Web site
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