The information in this program outline is provided by the program representative and edited by the CEBC staff. The Together Facing the Challenge program has been rated by the CEBC in the area of: Resource Parent Recruitment and Training.

• Types of Maltreatment: Does not target any specific kind of maltreatment
• Target Population: Treatment foster parents and agency staff

Together Facing the Challenge is a training/consultation approach to improving practice in treatment foster care (TFC). The intervention was built from a naturalistic study of “usual care” TFC to determine what practice components were related to improved outcomes for youth. It also incorporates elements from existing evidence-based treatments to fill identified gaps in usual care practice. The resulting model includes training/consultation for TFC supervisors as well as training for treatment foster parents. Together Facing the Challenge is designed as a train-the-trainer approach, so that TFC administrative/supervisory personnel can learn the training and model and train treatment foster parents.

This program will provide training on practical parenting and supervisory skills and techniques. The goal of the program is that, at the end, both therapeutic foster parents and supervisors alike will:

• Build therapeutic relationships
• Perform and teach cooperation skills
• Implement effective parenting techniques (communicate effectively, set expectations, reinforce positive behavior, avoid power struggles, etc.)
• Prepare youth for their future by teaching independence skills
• Create a positive home environment through family fun time, taking care of self, family meetings, etc.

The program strives to improve outcomes for youth served in therapeutic foster care settings.