The information in this program outline is provided by the program representative and edited by the CEBC staff. The Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care - Adolescents (MTFC-A) program has been rated by the CEBC in the areas of: Disruptive Behavior Treatment (Child & Adolescent), Higher Level of Placement, Placement Stabilization and Behavioral Management for Adolescents in Child Welfare.

• Child Welfare Outcomes: Permanency and Child/Family Well-Being
• Types of Maltreatment: Physical Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Physical Neglect, Emotional Abuse, Exposure to Domestic Violence
• Target Population: Boys and girls, 12-18 years old with severe delinquency and/or severe emotional and behavioral disorders. These youth were in need of out-of-home placement and could not be adequately served in lower levels of care.

MTFC-A is a model of foster care treatment for children 12-18 years old with severe emotional and behavioral disorders and/or severe delinquency. MTFC-A aims to create opportunities for youths to successfully live in families rather than in group or institutional settings, and to simultaneously prepare their parents (or other long-term placement) to provide them with effective parenting. Four key elements of treatment are (1) providing youths with a consistent reinforcing environment where he or she is mentored and encouraged to develop academic and positive living skills, (2) providing daily structure with clear expectations and limits, with well-specified consequences delivered in a teaching-oriented manner, (3) providing close supervision of youths' whereabouts, and (4) helping youth to avoid deviant peer associations while providing them with the support and assistance needed to establish pro-social peer relationships. MFTC-A also has versions for preschoolers and children. MFTC-P (for preschoolers) is rated separately on this website. MTFC-C (for children) has not been tested separately, but has the same elements as MFTC-A except it includes materials more developmentally appropriate for younger children.