FFT Partners held a forum in central Florida in October to discuss the large scale implementation of FFT as applied to the foster care population. FFT applied to foster care is a relationally-focused and trauma-informed treatment model for children and youth in the foster care system that increases the likelihood of successful positive adjustment and permanency placement. The forum was attended by Community Based Care (CBC) agencies from circuits 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 18, and with representatives from University of South Florida (USF) and Central Florida Behavioral Health Network (CFBHN).
Following an introduction of the application of FFT to foster care by Tom Sexton (FFT Partners CEO), guest speakers Joshanda Guerrier (CT Administrator and former Assistant Secretary for FL DCF) and Nicole McKelvey-Walsh (Therapeutic Foster Care CT DCF Administration), shared their experience with their path to Therapeutic Foster Care redesign and the use of the FFT model in their foster care system.
The interactive discussion included Connecticut's original idea to transform the system, workgroups coming together that included clinical, validated tools and finance, some of the models that were also considered, the selection of the model, the RFP process, contracting throughout the state, funding, and questions taken from those in the audience.
You can watch the full presentation using this link: FFT FL Circuit Directors and Leadership Forum