Evidence Based Associates presents award to the FFT/Redirection program

On November 12, 2009, Evidence Based Associates presented an award to the FFT/Redirection program at the Institute for Child & Family Health. The Redirection Program is a community-based, family-centered alternative to residential juvenile justice commitment programs. The Legislature specified that Redirection provide Multisystemic Therapy and Functional Family Therapy. These therapy models have been identified as Blueprint Programs for Violence Prevention by the U.S. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, based on high-quality evaluations showing sustained reductions in recidivism for serious and violent offenders.

The award was given for quality Functional Family Therapy services to families having the best outcomes (adherence to the FFT model, time between referral and opening cases, number of sessions per month and successful closures) in the State of Florida in 2009. Through FFT, the therapist works with adolescents to build upon protective factors in the family system order to increase functioning of all members.

"I am very proud to work with such a hardworking, dedicated FFT team. They are making a big difference in the lives of troubled youth and their families in Miami-Dade County. It was a great honor to receive this award from Evidence Based Associates and FFT," said Susan L. Ofstein, LMFT, and Redirection Coordinator at the Institute for Child & Family Health.

The program has saved the state $36.4 million in initial juvenile commitment costs and avoided $5.2 million in subsequent juvenile commitment and adult prison costs. The Redirection Program diverts appropriate youth from residential programs to less costly therapy-based community programs.

"The FFT team at ICFH earned this award because of their commitment to providing the highest level of services to families and youth in Dade County while maintaining adherence to the model. The team succeeded in realizing the vision of DJJ (Department of Juvenile Justice) by providing community-based family treatment with successful outcomes and saving taxpayers money," said Barbara Byrne, L.C.S.W., and Program Manager of Evidence Based Associates. "We are proud to collaborate with ICFH and the Department of Juvenile Justice in offering the Redirection program throughout the State."