Evidence

Randomized Trials

~ Children and adolescents from CWS leaving a state psychiatric hospital
~ Boys from juvenile justice for chronic delinquency
~ Girls from juvenile justice with severe mental health problems and abuse histories (2)
~ Child welfare “challenging” children
~ Child welfare children receiving a next placement
~ 6thgrade girls in foster care
~ Young children in foster care
Boys Follow Up Outcomes

Safety

  • ½ the number of arrests (and significantly lower violence rates)
  • 2/3 fewer days incarcerated
  • Significantly less hard drug use

Permanency

  • Significantly more time living with family
  • Fewer runaways
  • Less time with antisocial friends on the street

Well-being

  • Higher rates of school attendance and homework completion
  • Higher ratings of life satisfaction
Girls Follow Up Outcomes
  • Reduced delinquency (arrests, days in locked settings)
  • Reduced deviant peer association
  • Increased school attendance & homework time
  • Fewer unintended pregnancies
  • Reduced depressive symptoms
  • Decreased psychotic symptoms
Girls Long Term Outcomes Compared to TAU (9.5 yrs.)
  • Decreased criminal offenses
  • Decreased severity of offenses committed
  • Decreased unintended pregnancies
  • Decreased depressive symptoms
  • Decreased suicidal ideation
  • Partner choice is related to long term substance use outcomes for THC and hard drugs
  • Decreased involvement in Child Welfare system as parent

Cost Savings

TFCO has a demonstrated, long-term cost benefit!

For every $1.00 spent on TFCO treatment compared to usual care, there is a benefit of:

  • $3.15 at 4.5 years, when considering child welfare and criminal justice involvement. 
  • $4.35 at 9½ years, when considering child welfare and criminal justice involvement.