Building Stronger Bonds: The Power of Family Centered Treatment

In an ever-evolving landscape of healthcare, one approach has been consistently proving its worth at HopeTree: Family Centered Treatment (FCT.) This familycentric model, which prioritizes the involvement of family members in the care process, is increasingly gaining recognition for its numerous benefits.

FCT a testament to the enduring strength of the human spirit and the healing power of togetherness. In the face of life's greatest challenges, families united in their unwavering support can not only weather the storm but emerge from it stronger, more connected, and deeply transformed. The impact of this approach transcends medical records and treatment plans; it touches the very essence of what it means to be a family—loving, caring, and healing together.

What is Family Centered Treatment?

Family Centered Treatment (FCT) addresses the needs of a family as a whole, recognizing that what affects one family member affects all family members. The program is home- and community-based by nature, providing a more intensive multiple hours per week-and collaborative approach to addressing family system breakdown.

FCT serves as a prevention, stabilization and reunification model. Fitting beautifully into HopeTree'scontinuum of services, we can continue to partner with the Department of Social Services, schools, and other community partners to prevent children and families from coming into the child welfare system. If a child is already in care, we can implement FCT as a way to support foster families in stabilizing a youth within a home to prevent traumatic disruptions of placement. This model is also used as a stepdown form of treatment from higher levels of care, such as HopeTree's Therapeutic Group Homes. The transition home is often the most difficult for youth, and children often return to care. Crucial in supporting families through intentional preparation for the child returning home, FCT helps address generational traumas. From this position, we can target the specific area(s) of family functioning, identified by the family, as the greatest barrier for the child to return home.

FCT: The Power to Reunite

A model of resilience and transformation, one family's journey from disorder to newfound hope and unity has been one of HopeTree’s best successes. This inspiring story began with parent coaching at HopeTree, eventually leading to the successful reunification of a mother and her three children who were all placed in foster care.

The mother's path to this triumphant reunion was fraught with adversity from her early years, as she navigated in and out of institutions and grappled with the enduring challenges of her mental health. Her reputation was one of aggression, anger, and explosiveness, making the prospect of reunification with her children seem daunting.

However, the tide began to turn when the mother, against all odds, built a bond of trust with a HopeTree parent coach. This dedicated coach served as a guiding light, assisting the family in transitioning towards a Family Centered Treatment (FCT) program. The process of reunification started with one child at a time, ensuring a gradual and well-planned approach to family restoration.

Under the FCT program, the mother undertook a remarkable journey of self-improvement, learning how to parent, reconnect, and provide for her children. Simultaneously, the children themselves embarked on a journey of healing, discovering how to trust their mother, share their deepest feelings, and navigate the turbulent waters of transition.

The momentous day arrived when their participation in Family Centered Treatment concluded, and the family was finally reunited. Overwhelmed with emotion, the mother shared her gratitude, stating that she would never have been able to have her children back if it weren't for HopeTree and the FCT team's unwavering support. She further emphasized that it was FCT that enabled them to become a true family for the first time. These children, who had never truly lived with their mother, had spent their lives with other family members or in foster care, and even endured their mother's absence during her incarceration.

The story of this family serves as a powerful reminder that, with the right support and dedication, even the most challenging circumstances can be transformed into stories of triumph and hope.