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Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care has been developed and evaluated in the USA as a cost-effective alternative to residential treatment for adolescents with complex needs and challenging behaviour, including offending behaviour. The DCSF has funded two programmes based on this approach: one which pilots its use with adolescents; and a second, working with young children aged three to six, which focuses on prevention.
Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care involves parenting training, for both the foster carers and the biological (or adoptive) parents, which emphasises the use of behaviour management methods in order to provide a structured and a therapeutic living environment. The training is combined with access to a single multi-disciplinary team, providing a combination of mental health, education and social services.
Intervention targets those factors in each young person's social network which contribute to their problems, including challenging behaviour. It combines high levels of supervision with very positive parenting practices. It also seeks to decrease involvement with anti-social peer groups and to enhance involvement in school and positive recreational activities.
Specific treatment techniques used to achieve these outcomes apply previous methods that have already been shown to be effective, including cognitive, behavioural and family therapies.
Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care in England programme
The Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care in England programme aims to develop effective placements and services for young people with complex welfare needs who are looked after by local authorities. Complex needs include offending, anti-social behaviour and severe emotional and behavioural difficulties. There is currently a lack of effective provision for this population. A total of 18 local authorities are currently piloting the programme. Funding for the programme was made available between 2002-03 and 2005-06 through a bidding process. New local authorities came on stream to the programme in each of the 4 years and all are now working towards accreditation with Oregon Social Learning Center at which point they will cease to be DCSF pilots.
Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care Prevention programme
Following the successful development of the four-year programme to set up an intervention for adolescents, focus has now shifted to the younger 3 to 6 age group. Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care Prevention has been developed for pre-school aged foster children whose long term outcomes may be poor. It uses a team approach to address risk factors and to improve outcomes for children through interventions in foster homes, birth families and in community settings. This includes the use of a weekly children's group.
The programme aims to improve children's functioning across all areas of development. It places a particular emphasis on supporting the development of emotional and behavioural regulation and empathy which are core components for success at school and in relationships.
Six local authorities and their partner agencies are currently being funded in 2006-07 and 2007-08 to pilot the model in England.
Training, supervision and support are provided by the national team, which is based at the Maudsley Hospital in London and Booth Hall Children's Hospital in Manchester. The national team are supported by the Oregon Social Learning Center who developed the model.
Click for more information on the Oregon Social Learning Center website.
Documents
Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care England: First annual progress report (June 2005)
This first report outlines the development of the project and its activity across the national sites up to June 2005. It describes the progress and development plan for the pilot sites, along with the training programmes for the clinical staff and foster carers. It also analyses the successes, challenges and learning to date.
Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care England: Second annual progress report (June 2006)
The second annual report of the adolescent programme outlines the progress of the pilot sites to June 2006 and provides important audit data on the interim outcomes of young people who have graduated from the programme. The report provides feedback to local authorities and partner agencies about the opportunities and challenges of the programme, with accompanying evidence. It also looks into the longer term sustainability of the programmes as part of the range of services commissioned by local authorities for looked-after children.
Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care England: Third annual progress report (July 2007)
This is the third annual progress report produced by the National Implementation Team. The report outlines progress in developing the pilot sites and provides important audit data on interim outcomes of young people who have graduated from the programme. A key purpose of the report is to provide important feedback to local authorities and partner agencies about the merits and challenges of the programme in order to provide evidence and arguments for the longer-term sustainability of the programmes, funded by the local authorities themselves.
Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care in England (MTFCE): Annual project report 2008
This fourth annual project report published by the national implementation team provides an update of project development and activity across the national sites; outlines the progress and developmental plan for the teams; provides audit data on outcomes for young people who graduate from the programme; details of the development of the training programmes for the clinical staff and foster carers; and the successes, challenges and learning so far. The ongoing audit data and analysis of the young people admitted to the scheme makes up a substantial part of this year's report. For the MTFC-P and MTFC-C sites, the theoretical background and information can be found in the 1st and 2nd year reports.
Associated documents
Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care in England (MTFCE) Annual Project Report 2008
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Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care in England (MTFCE) Annual Project Report 2008
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Last updated on 11/04/2009
