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Family Stabilization Programs

Scientific Ratings in this Topic
  • 1 Well-Supported by Research Evidence
  • 2 Supported by Research Evidence
  • 3 Promising Research Evidence
  • 4 Evidence Fails to Demonstrate Effect
  • 5 Concerning Practice
  • NR Not able to be Rated

Topic Areas

Topic Areas

Definition

Family Stabilization Programs are defined by the CEBC as programs designed to ensure the safety and well-being of children and youth in their homes; prevent their initial placement or re-entry into foster care; and preserve, support, and stabilize their families. Family stabilization programs are aimed at families who have come to the attention of child welfare services and are in crisis and/or facing imminent risk of removal. Terms commonly used to describe Family stabilization programs may include family preservation, family support, family engagement, home visiting, and place-based services (these are usually housed in a community or neighborhood center, but have an in-home component providing parenting classes, after school programs, and other family services aimed at supporting, stabilizing, and maintaining intact families). Family stabilization programs may include the services that are delivered to families through the differential response process.

  • Target population: Families who have come to the attention of child welfare services and are in crisis and/or facing imminent risk of having their child(ren) removed
  • Services/types that fit: Assessment, case planning, case management, education, and/or skill building
  • Delivered by: Child welfare workers, mental health professionals, or trained paraprofessionals
  • In order to be included: Program must specifically target prevention of out-of-home placement as a goal
  • In order to be rated: There must be research evidence (as specified by the Scientific Rating Scale) that examines changes in child welfare outcomes for families (reduced out-of-home placement, decreased recidivism, etc.)

Downloadable Topic Area Summary

Definition

Family Stabilization Programs are defined by the CEBC as programs designed to ensure the safety and well-being of children and youth in their homes; prevent their initial placement or re-entry into foster care; and preserve, support, and stabilize their families. Family stabilization programs are aimed at families who have come to the attention of child welfare services and are in crisis and/or facing imminent risk of removal. Terms commonly used to describe Family stabilization programs may include family preservation, family support, family engagement, home visiting, and place-based services (these are usually housed in a community or neighborhood center, but have an in-home component providing parenting classes, after school programs, and other family services aimed at supporting, stabilizing, and maintaining intact families). Family stabilization programs may include the services that are delivered to families through the differential response process.

  • Target population: Families who have come to the attention of child welfare services and are in crisis and/or facing imminent risk of having their child(ren) removed
  • Services/types that fit: Assessment, case planning, case management, education, and/or skill building
  • Delivered by: Child welfare workers, mental health professionals, or trained paraprofessionals
  • In order to be included: Program must specifically target prevention of out-of-home placement as a goal
  • In order to be rated: There must be research evidence (as specified by the Scientific Rating Scale) that examines changes in child welfare outcomes for families (reduced out-of-home placement, decreased recidivism, etc.)

Downloadable Topic Area Summary

Programs

Homebuilders®

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

Scientific Rating 2

Family Centered Treatment®

Families with members at risk of placement in or requiring intensive services to transition back from treatment facilities, foster care, group or residential treatment, psychiatric hospitalization, or juvenile justice facilities

Scientific Rating 3

Indiana Family Preservation Services

All families with in-home cases where the department (and the court, when applicable) believes that the child (birth to 18) can be safely maintained in their home with the introduction of services; cases where abuse and/or neglect has not been substantiated are allowed in select instances

Scientific Rating 3

Multidimensional Family Recovery

Parents with children from birth to 18 who have come to the attention of, or are involved with, the child welfare system and have at least one parent whose substance use is determined to be a primary child safety risk factor

Scientific Rating 3

SAFE@Home

Parents/caregivers and children (0-17) who are determined by public child welfare agencies to be unsafe with their families and who have cases opened for ongoing services

Scientific Rating 3

Sobriety Treatment and Recovery Teams

Families with at least one child under 6 years of age who are in the child welfare system and have a parent whose substance use is determined to be a primary child safety risk factor

Scientific Rating 3

Cultural Broker Family Advocate Program

Families with children ages 0-17 at risk of involvement or currently involved with the child welfare system including birth parents, foster parents, adoptive parents, guardians, and relatives

Scientific Rating NR

Families First of Michigan

Children who are at high risk of removal from their families due to abuse or neglect

Scientific Rating NR

Functional Family Therapy Child Welfare®

Children and adolescents up to 17 years of age and their parent/caregivers and other family members who were referred to child welfare services for indicated or suspected child abuse or neglect.

Scientific Rating NR

LIFE – Live In Family Enhancement

Parents with children ages 0-17 at risk of having their children enter foster care or who are in the process of reunification with their children

Scientific Rating NR

Parent Support Outreach Program

Families with at least one child aged 10 or younger, or pregnant, who are identified as being exposed to two or more risk factors including, but not limited to, poverty, past maltreatment history, domestic violence, chemical dependency, and emotional or behavioral health problems; Minor parents and nontraditional caregivers such as relatives or nonresident parents.

Scientific Rating NR

Programs

Homebuilders®

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

Scientific Rating 2

Family Centered Treatment®

Families with members at risk of placement in or requiring intensive services to transition back from treatment facilities, foster care, group or residential treatment, psychiatric hospitalization, or juvenile justice facilities

Scientific Rating 3

Indiana Family Preservation Services

All families with in-home cases where the department (and the court, when applicable) believes that the child (birth to 18) can be safely maintained in their home with the introduction of services; cases where abuse and/or neglect has not been substantiated are allowed in select instances

Scientific Rating 3

Multidimensional Family Recovery

Parents with children from birth to 18 who have come to the attention of, or are involved with, the child welfare system and have at least one parent whose substance use is determined to be a primary child safety risk factor

Scientific Rating 3

SAFE@Home

Parents/caregivers and children (0-17) who are determined by public child welfare agencies to be unsafe with their families and who have cases opened for ongoing services

Scientific Rating 3

Sobriety Treatment and Recovery Teams

Families with at least one child under 6 years of age who are in the child welfare system and have a parent whose substance use is determined to be a primary child safety risk factor

Scientific Rating 3

Cultural Broker Family Advocate Program

Families with children ages 0-17 at risk of involvement or currently involved with the child welfare system including birth parents, foster parents, adoptive parents, guardians, and relatives

Scientific Rating NR

Families First of Michigan

Children who are at high risk of removal from their families due to abuse or neglect

Scientific Rating NR

Functional Family Therapy Child Welfare®

Children and adolescents up to 17 years of age and their parent/caregivers and other family members who were referred to child welfare services for indicated or suspected child abuse or neglect.

Scientific Rating NR

LIFE – Live In Family Enhancement

Parents with children ages 0-17 at risk of having their children enter foster care or who are in the process of reunification with their children

Scientific Rating NR

Parent Support Outreach Program

Families with at least one child aged 10 or younger, or pregnant, who are identified as being exposed to two or more risk factors including, but not limited to, poverty, past maltreatment history, domestic violence, chemical dependency, and emotional or behavioral health problems; Minor parents and nontraditional caregivers such as relatives or nonresident parents.

Scientific Rating NR

Why was this topic chosen by the Advisory Committee?

The Family Stabilization Programs topic area is relevant to child welfare because a primary goal of child welfare is to strengthen families and prevent unnecessary placement of children and youth. Too often, children are removed from their families because there are insufficient services to support and strengthen the family and ensure safety. Agencies need to know about alternatives to removal and placement and which types of services/programs are most effective in stabilizing the family, building family strengths, and maintaining safety.

Pamela Day
Former CEBC Advisory Committee Member

Why was this topic chosen by the Advisory Committee?

The Family Stabilization Programs topic area is relevant to child welfare because a primary goal of child welfare is to strengthen families and prevent unnecessary placement of children and youth. Too often, children are removed from their families because there are insufficient services to support and strengthen the family and ensure safety. Agencies need to know about alternatives to removal and placement and which types of services/programs are most effective in stabilizing the family, building family strengths, and maintaining safety.

Pamela Day
Former CEBC Advisory Committee Member

Topic Expert

The Family Stabilization Programs topic area was added in 2012. Brad Richardson, PhD was the topic expert and was involved in identifying and rating any of the programs with an original load date in 2012 (as found on the bottom of the program's page on the CEBC) or others loaded earlier and added to this topic area when it launched. The topic area has grown over the years and any programs added since 2012 were identified by CEBC staff, the Scientific Panel, and/or the Advisory Committee. For these programs, Dr. Richardson was not involved in identifying or rating them.

Topic Expert

The Family Stabilization Programs topic area was added in 2012. Brad Richardson, PhD was the topic expert and was involved in identifying and rating any of the programs with an original load date in 2012 (as found on the bottom of the program's page on the CEBC) or others loaded earlier and added to this topic area when it launched. The topic area has grown over the years and any programs added since 2012 were identified by CEBC staff, the Scientific Panel, and/or the Advisory Committee. For these programs, Dr. Richardson was not involved in identifying or rating them.