The information in this program outline is provided by the program representative and edited by the CEBC staff. The Homebuilders® program has been rated by the CEBC in the areas of: Interventions for Neglect, Post-Permanency Services, Reunification and Family Stabilization.

• Types of Maltreatment: Physical Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Physical Neglect, Emotional Abuse
• Target Population: Families with children (birth to 18) at imminent risk of placement into, or needing intensive services to return from, foster care, group or residential treatment, psychiatric hospitals, or juvenile justice facilities.

Homebuilders® is a home and community-based intensive family preservation services treatment program designed to avoid unnecessary placement of children and youth into foster care, group care, psychiatric hospitals, or juvenile justice facilities. The goals of Homebuilders® are to reduce child abuse and neglect, family conflict, and child behavior problems; and to teach families the skills they need to prevent placement or successfully reunify with their children. The program model engages families by delivering services in their natural environment, at times when they are most receptive to learning, and by enlisting them as partners in assessment, goal setting, and treatment planning. Reunification cases often require case activities related to reintegrating the child into the home and community. Examples include helping the parent find childcare, enrolling the child in school, refurbishing the child's bedroom, and helping the child connect with clubs, sports or other community groups. Child neglect referrals often require case activities related to improving the physical condition of the home, improving supervision of children, decreasing parental depression and/or alcohol and substance abuse, and helping families access needed community supports.

• Engagement: Use a collaborative and collegial approach to engage and motivate families.
• Assessment and Goal Setting: Use client-directed assessment across life domains, ongoing safety assessment and planning, domestic violence assessment, suicide assessment, and crisis planning.
• Behavior Change: Use cognitive and behavioral research-based practices and behavioral interventions.
• Skills Development: Teach parents and children a wide variety of “life skills.” Use “teaching interaction” process including practice, feedback, and homework.
• Concrete Services: Provide and/or help the family access concrete goods and services that are directly related to achieving the family’s goals, while teaching them to meet these needs on their own.
• Community Coordination and Interactions: Coordinate, collaborate, and advocate with state, local, public, and community services and systems affecting the family, while teaching clients to advocate and access support for themselves.
• Immediate Response To Referral: Accept referrals 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Therapist and back- up are available 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Service Provided in the Natural Environment: Provide services in the families’ homes and community.
• Caseload Size: Carry caseloads of two families at a time on average, but can be as high as five.
• Flexibility and Responsiveness: Tailor services to each family’s needs, strengths, lifestyle, and culture.

Homebuilders® was designed with a child component that addresses the following presenting problems and symptoms:

• Noncompliance, behavioral/emotional problems, aggression/anger, truancy, and running away.

Age range: 0 – 17

Developmental Delays:

This program was not developed for children with developmental delays, and has not been tested for children with developmental delays.

Homebuilders® was designed with a parent/caregiver component that addresses the following presenting problems and symptoms:

• Family conflict and violence, poor parenting skills, depression, aggression/anger, substance abuse, child abuse, and neglect.

Homebuilders® was not designed to be conducted in a group setting, and has not been tested for use in a group setting.

Recommended Intensity:

Three to five 2-hour sessions contacts per week; an average of 8 to 10 hours per week of face to face contact, with telephone contact between sessions.

Recommended Duration:

An average of four to six weeks. Two aftercare 'booster sessions' totaling up to five hours are available in the six months following referral.

This program is typically conducted in a(n):

• Adoptive Home
• Birth Family Home

Homebuilders® includes a homework component:

Homework is individually tailored based on family goals; usually includes collecting data, practicing skills, and implementing interventions.

Homebuilders® does not have materials available in a language other than English.

The typical resources for implementing the program are:

• A team of 3-5 therapists, 1 supervisor (carries a partial caseload), and 1 secretary/support staff
• A small amount of staff work/office space, supplies, telephone, copier, etc.
• Pagers and /or cell phones
• Clinical staff use their own vehicles for home visits, mileage is paid for all client and program related travel
• Access to a computer and Internet for client records and data collection

• Therapist: Master's degree in psychology, social work, counseling, or a related field, or Bachelor's degree in same fields plus two years of experience working with families.
• Supervisor: Master's degree in psychology, social work, counseling or a related field, or Bachelor's degree in same fields plus two years of experience providing the program, plus one year supervisory/management experience.

There is a manual that describes how to implement this program, and there is training available for this program.

Training Contact:

• Shelley Leavitt, PhD, Associate Director
  Institute for Family Development
  sleavitt@institutefamily.org
  phone: (253) 874-3630
  34004 16th Ave. So., Suite 200
  Federal Way, WA 98003

Training is obtained:

Workshop training is provided onsite or at headquarters in Federal Way, WA. Program implementation and quality assurance is provided by telephone and on site.

Number of days/hours:

Recommended for clinical staff: 5 days initial training; 8 days of intermediate/advanced training; and 7 additional days of training for supervisors. Program implementation and quality assurance process involves quarterly 2-3 day site visits, 12 hours of records reviews, and 6-8 hours per month phone consultation.

Since Homebuilders® is highly rated on the Scientific Rating Scale, information was requested from the program representative on available pre-implementation assessments, implementation tools, and/or fidelity measures.

This program is rated a "2 - Supported by Research Evidence" on the Scientific Rating Scale based on the published, peer-reviewed research available. The practice must have at least one rigorous randomized controlled trial with a sustained effect of at least 6 months. Please see the Scientific Rating Scale for more information.

Child Welfare Outcome: Permanency