Evidence-Based Practice in Family Treatment

Maximum points available for this section: 20

Address how the needs of the population(s) of focus will be met.

• Describe how the program will ensure children and families with acute behavioral health needs that are at-risk of out-of-home placement will be served and how it will meet their needs.
• Describe how children and families will access FCT services. A crucial piece to FCT is that agencies should initiate contact with a family within 48 hours of referral. Describe how you will specifically adhere to this guideline.
• Describe the geographic area you intend to provide services.
• If you are an existing FCT provider, describe your new population focus for this funding.
• Describe the gaps in services you aim to address with this funding.
  

Maximum points available for this section: 15

The capacity to do the work and meet the program requirements is different from the experience doing the work.

Describe capacity to implement the program design.

• New or existing staff positions, and any professional licenses they hold, that will work under this grant and the anticipated number of hours per week for each position.
• Recruitment process and the anticipated timeline if hiring new positions.
• Continuation of the program if there is turnover in staff.
• Resources or partnerships and their role in ensuring success of this program.

If subcontractor(s) will be used to perform activities to achieve program goals, describe:

• The extent of the relationship.
• How the subcontractor(s) capacity relates to the overall ability to implement this program.
• Roles, responsibilities, and expectations of the subcontractor(s).
• Experience managing and monitoring subcontractor(s).

Maximum points available for this section: 20

FCT requires services to take place in the home and community to families/caregiver(s) multiple times per week depending on the family’s needs. Services should be available 24/7, 365 days a year. Sessions should average 90-120 minutes in length. FCT practitioners assigned to families will be available to families for crisis response 24/7 per week. Duration of FCT for most families is approximately six months.

Describe experience with, and/or knowledge similar to, this program.

• Providing services to children and families in their homes and within the community.
  • Describe your experience implementing an evidence-based treatment model for children and families.
  • Include information on how the agency provided oversight and monitoring to ensure fidelity and how any applicable certifications were maintained.
  • Describe your organizational experience in record keeping of when and how services were provided, evaluating services, and providing outreach to the target population.
• Building relationships with and/or working with the population(s) of focus or similar population(s).
• Collecting and using data or other information to determine if efforts had an impact.
• Hiring and supervising staff with specialized knowledge or licensure.

If you will be using subcontractor(s) to perform activities to achieve program goals, describe their experience with, and/or knowledge similar to, this program:

• Describe their experience providing services to children and families in their homes and within the community.
• Include information on how the agency provided oversight and monitoring to ensure fidelity and how any applicable certifications were maintained.
• Describe their organizational experience in record keeping of when and how services were provided, evaluating services, and providing outreach to the target population.
• Building relationships with and/or working with the population(s) of focus or similar population(s).
• Collecting and using data or other information to determine if efforts had an impact.
• Hiring and supervising staff with specialized knowledge or licensure.

Describe the relevant training and professional development staff and/or subcontracted staff will receive over the anticipated total funding period.

Maximum points available for this section: 40

For each priority, describe the:

• Objectives: Measurable and time-bound efforts to achieve the priority.
• Activities: Specific steps you will take to meet the objectives.
• Timelines: When you anticipate starting and finishing each activity.
• Measurable impact: Describe how you will measure or demonstrate a desirable outcome is being achieved for the priority (for example, data source(s) or measurements that will be used, surveys of clients, etc.).

Maximum points available for priority one: 10

Successfully complete the training and certification program in FCT.

• Identify appropriate clinicians and management staff to participate, complete, and receive certification in FCT.
• Dedicate staff time to training and certification requirements.
• Develop an implementation team to lead the effort throughout implementation, training, and completion of FCT.

Maximum points available for priority two: 10

Develop policies within the agency’s existing behavioral health system that will allow for appropriate referrals, timely screening, and admittance of families to be served under the FCT model.

• Work across multiple child-serving systems to ensure seamless access to children and families with acute needs and that are at-risk of out-of-home placement.
• Establish eligibility requirements and appropriate referrals to FCT programming.
• Ensure timely responses to referrals, knowing best practice under the FCT model is that initial contact with a family is within 48 hours of a referral.
• Manage referrals and staffing caseload expectations.

Maximum points available for priority one: 10

Decrease symptoms of crisis and acute needs, increase family functioning, increase treatment engagement, and decrease the need for out-of-home placements and hospitalizations by providing an evidence-based in-home therapy model to families.

• Engage and educate families on FCT.
• Provide intensive in-home services to families for approximately six to nine hours a week.
• Manage family crises and develop appropriate crisis response to their acute needs.
• Develop and maintain data tracking systems that measure both baseline and post-treatment outcomes in the following areas:
  • Symptoms of crisis and acute needs.
  • Family functioning.
  • Treatment engagement and completion rates.
  • Out-of-home placement and hospitalizations.
  • Law enforcement contact for enrolled families.
  • Crisis contact for enrolled families.

Maximum points available for priority one: 10

Maintain FCT certification requirements and programming post grant funding by implementing a sustainability plan.

• Use Medicaid or other funding sources to allow for the sustainability of FCT services.
• Support workforce development and retention of trained staff in FCT.
• Identify funding mechanisms to continue FCT ongoing certification costs.

Maximum points available for this section: 10

Applications must also include the following documents:

IRS Form W-9 (PDF) .

DCTS Summary Line item Budget: F-01601 (Excel) .

In general, agencies can expect that FCT training and certification costs through the FCT Foundation for year one to be approximately $42,000 and in year two to be approximately $36,000. The total amount of funding awarded will be $125,000 over the course of two years. Agency budgets for year one and year two may differ based upon cost needs with staffing and training. Reflect the anticipated costs and budget for year one with your submitted application.

Allowable costs may include but are not limited to staff time when in trainings or other activities otherwise not reimbursable through other funding sources, operating expenses, indirect costs.

Organizational chart(s) that shows where the FCT program would be positioned and associated staff.

Position description for each position directly involved with this program.

The additional documents do not count toward the narrative response page limit.