TFTProviderQandA

Treatment Family Teacher Practitioner Provider

Q. What is a Treatment Family Teacher or TFT Practitioner?
A. A Therapeutic/Treatment Family Teacher Practitioner is a treatment oriented
foster parent. This parent provides mental health treatment in their own home as a
short or long term transition from a residential treatment home back into the teen’s
natural home, or provides an out-of-home therapeutic environment less intensive
than a group home.
Q.        Can you tell me about the stipend?
A. The stipend is based on the contracted amount that each TFT Practitioner
negotiates with each placement based on variable qualifications – see contractual
agreement. This amount ranges from $57-$70 per day for each youth served in
your home. This payment is exempt and sheltered from all income taxes and is
paid to support room & board as well as the therapy offered by the TFT
Provider.      Sample Contract Agreement
Q. How much living space will I need to set aside to serve one of these
clients?
A. Just to get a general idea, each client served will be required to have a
bedroom with no less than 100 total square feet (80 each if 2 clients share a
bedroom). Each client will need a minimum of a twin bed with linens, a storage
space (closet or chest of drawers), and a nightstand. No client is ever permitted
to share a bed with another person while being cared for in your home. Clients
are not allowed to share a bedroom with natural children at any time. Specific
licensing requirements are available upon request.
Q. Can I serve more than one client at a time?
A. TFT Practitioners may serve a maximum of two clients at a time. This is only if
the consultant feels the couple is ready to allow two youth to be served in the
home. Youth Quest makes a referral to your home specifically approving the client
to share the home or room with another client. If space requirements are met,
these clients may share a bedroom.
Q. I would like to take a client for a longer term commitment, but may
relocate in the next few years. Would I still be able to provide successful
treatment if I eventually needed to transfer the client into a different
therapeutic foster home?
A. Stability is key for the clients we serve. The reality is that situations change,
and often times the best therapeutic foster parents are only available for a term.
The relationships formed are lasting even when a client will need to transfer to
another therapeutic foster home. Youth Quest aims to ease transitions by
providing a support network for each client served which crosses several families
during the term a client is in out-of-home treatment. When they return to their
natural families, we encourage relationships to continue through open dialogue
and support offered to each client who becomes part of your family. This can be
done by writing a letter periodically, making a phone call on special days, leaving
open invitations to come to dinner periodically, and by directly communicating your
desire to continue the therapeutic relationship. Many clients benefit for years after
treatment has been provided through these lasting relationships; sometimes even
with significant geographical distances.
Q. What do you mean by “treatment”? How do I provide “treatment” for
these clients?
A. A TFT Practitioner is provided 30 hours of training using the Teaching-Family
Model of Treatment. This model is a highly researched and effective method of
carrying out specific social deficiencies often found with the clients you will serve.
This model provides methods for effectively teaching skills while maintaining
integration into a normal family environment. When a client is placed in your
home, a qualified professional will discuss with you a service plan which is a map
of services Youth Quest expects you to provide the client. This service plan will
detail goals which you will need to carry out, how you will carry out these goals,
and how often goals will need to be addressed.
Q. Do these teens go to school?
A. All clients served are enrolled full-time in public schools. Some may be
receiving special services for children with behavioral or emotional disabilities. In
some cases, the treatment team will recommend a client transition from full-time
schooling to full-time employment as clients age and progress and as their needs
change.
Q. How will I be supported in this challenging but worthwhile endeavor?
A.
1. Teaching Family Model Pre-Service Workshop (30 hours)
Initially you will be provided with the Teaching Family Model Pre-Service
workshop. This workshop will strengthen your understanding of the expectations
Youth Quest has in providing treatment to clients as well as skills to successfully
work with these children.
2. On-Going Teaching Family Model In-Service workshops (1 hour)
These workshops are available once weekly and will be required twice monthly. If
you feel you need more training, you are always welcome to attend every week.
The goal of In-Service is to strengthen your clinical abilities in working with these
special children.
3. TFT Practitioner Support Group (1/2 hour, held as needed)
After each weekly In-Service meeting, TFT Practitioners will be encouraged to
strengthen and gain strength from one another through sharing experiences, trials,
and rewarding moments. Refreshments will be provided.
4. Evaluations
TFT Practitioners will be provided with regular and on-going performance
evaluations to strengthen clinical abilities and assist with treatment planning. TFT
Consultants will be providing evaluations in your home, by telephone, or e-mail.
5. 24-Hour Crisis Support
TFT Practitioners are each provided with a TFT Consultant to provide telephone
support at all times.
Q.        What behaviors can I expect from serving one of these children?
A. Many of these children have histories of moderate to severe behaviors which
have demonstrated the need to be removed from their home environment. At this
level of care, and with effective use of the Teaching Family Model, behaviors will
generally model those of a typical teenager. In addition to normative adolescent
behaviors, they will at times demonstrate more severe behaviors of oppositions to
authority, showing depressive signs, relationship issues (unrealistic expectations
for attention or emotionally avoidant behaviors), etc. Many of these children show
symptoms of ADHD. Symptoms are usually under control at this level but will
require a continual supportive and structured plan.
Q. What is the typical day like as a TFT Practitioner?
A. During school you could expect to support the child every day prior to school
with preparing homework from the evening prior, getting ready on time to catch the
school bus, dressing appropriately, and maintaining their living space. Typically
they get up, get ready, and leave for school.
After they return from school (usually around 3 pm) they will be expected to
complete a chore, their homework, and have a clean bedroom prior to using any
privileges. You should expect to spend approximately 30-90 minutes of 1:1 time
interacting with the child before dinner. Each parent should have a system in
place for what the child is expected to contribute during the week with dinner.
After dinner, the child would be expected to help with clean up. Bedtime on a
weeknight is expected to be regular and predictable. This is flexible but is usually
around 9 pm.
On weekends, most clients will be spending part or the entire weekend with a
maximum of one overnight with their natural family in preparation to return to live
with their families. In some cases, respite care will be offered to TFT Providers;
but should not be expected as standard. If a child does not go on a home visit,
that child will be expected to participate in your family activities for the weekend
and should remain on his/her motivation system.
Q.        How old are the children served in the TFT Program? Can you tell
me about the challenges of the families they come from?
A.        TFT Program children are both male and female, span all races, and are
aged 8-17. These children have often come from environments where roles and
expectations were often confusing for the child. Many children are victims of
emotional, physical, or sexual abuse, and/or are victims of neglectful homes. A
high percentage of these children exhibit roles which are not appropriate for their
age, primarily parenting roles. It would not be uncommon to have a client think it
was unfair for you to expect them to go to bed at nine when you go to bed later.
Firm parents are needed to help these children remain in their appropriate role as
a child by not allowing the child to argue about rules, avoiding power struggles,
catching times when children give adults instructions and redirecting them to
report rather than instruct, and ensuring that Teaching Parents maintain adult
conversations and relationships privately. For example, it would not be
uncommon for a child to try and be involved in a couple’s disagreement.
Q.        As a couple, we are interested in becoming TFT Practitioners. My
spouse works full-time though, and I work part-time. Can we still provide
this service?
A. Yes. Stipend rates are adjusted based on experience, education, and
availability to the child. North Carolina has an extreme shortage of TFT stipends,
so this should not be your only source of income as referrals may not be consistent
enough to maintain a stable income.
Q.        I am very interested in becoming a Therapeutic Family Teacher?
How do I get started?
A.        Complete the Therapeutic Family Teacher Provider Information and
Application? (919) 942-1625 TFT Provider Application