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  • What Is Treatment Foster Care?

What Is Treatment Foster Care?

Treatment foster care, also called therapeutic foster care, is designed to provide safe and nurturing care to a child or youth in a more structured home environment than typical foster care, and it can be a cost-effective alternative to residential treatment. This section includes publications and websites that provide information about treatment foster care. Resources include State and local examples.

Best Practices in Treatment Foster Care for Children and Youth With Medically Fragile Conditions (PDF - 342 KB)
Foster Family-based Treatment Association (2013)
Discusses challenges and successful strategies in providing treatment foster care to children and youth diagnosed with at least one chronic condition requiring long-term reliance on medical care.

Therapeutic Foster Care: Exceptional Care for Complex, Trauma-Impacted Youth in Foster Care (PDF - 591 KB)
Boyd (2013)
State Policy Advocacy and Reform Center
Outlines the role of therapeutic foster care, including best practices and highlights programs in various States that should be replicated.

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State and local examples

Behavioral Rehabilitative Services Handbook (PDF - 314 KB)
Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, Children's Administration (2015)
Provides information on an intensive support and treatment program designed to assist children with behavioral and emotional disturbances as well as developmental disabilities in transitioning to a less restrictive environment. Chapter 9 is dedicated to treatment foster care.

Promoting Permanency: Successful Exits From Therapeutic Group Care Through Family and Community Reintegration [Video]
Casey Family Programs, Travis County Health and Human Services, & Texas Child Protective Services (2009)
Raises awareness about the importance of permanency for youth who have spent time in foster care, especially those with complex mental and behavioral needs. The video features the stories of three families who were successfully reunited through the Child Protective Services Reintegration Pilot Project in Travis County, Texas. A discussion guide (PDF - 536 KB) for facilitators is also available.

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Foster Family-based Treatment Association

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Treatment Foster Care

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