Family Involvement in Treatment Foster Care

Child mental health policy and practice has increasingly embraced family-driven practice which promotes family involvement in all aspects of planning and service delivery. While evidence for positive outcomes related to family involvement is mounting in traditional residential treatment, there is little information about family involvement in treatment foster care. This study provides data on family involvement in a statewide randomized trial of treatment foster care. The types of family involvement, factors associated with such involvement, and placement outcomes were examined. Nearly eighty percent of youth experienced recent family contact and/or family participation in treatment planning. Implications for research, policy, and practice to increase understanding the role of family involvement are discussed.