Beyond Adolescence: How Functional Family Therapy Supports Adults in the Justice System
Functional Family Therapy (FFT) is best known for its powerful impact with youth and families. For decades, it has helped young people reduce risk behaviors, strengthen family relationships, and build skills for long-term success. But what many don’t realize is that the same model, adapted as Functional Family Therapy-Adult (FFT-A), has also been successfully implemented with young adults in the criminal justice system.
This is a critical population. While young adults between the ages of 18 and 26 make up less than 10% of the U.S. population, they account for more than 23% of all arrests. Many of these young people are entering adulthood with histories of trauma, disrupted education, unstable housing, and co-occurring mental health or substance use challenges. Without intentional support, they face some of the highest rates of recidivism in the justice system.
Why a Family Lens Still Matters in Adulthood
Traditional justice interventions often zero in on individual accountability. But developmental science shows that the brain continues maturing into the mid-20s, especially in areas responsible for decision-making and impulse control. For justice-involved young adults, strong relational support can be the difference between cycling back into the system or building a stable, productive future.
Functional Family Therapy- Adult (FFT-A) keeps families, broadly defined, at the center of change. “Family” may mean biological relatives, but it also includes mentors, partners, and chosen supports. By anchoring treatment in the relationships that matter most, FFT-A provides young adults with the secure base they need to practice autonomy, resilience, and responsibility.
As noted by Functional Family Therapy leaders Marta Anderson and Thomas Sexton in their recent Journal of Community Justice article (Functional Family Therapy-Adult: An Evidence-Based, Family-Focused Model to Work with Young Adults in the Criminal Justice System):
“Flexibility in defining family is not a compromise in fidelity; it is a critical adaptation for relevance, engagement, and long-term success.”
This insight highlights a core strength of Functional Family Therapy- Adult, its ability to meet young adults where they are, with the people they trust most.
What Functional Family Therapy- Adult Looks Like in Practice
FFT-A is a structured yet flexible model, typically delivered in 12–16 sessions over three to five months. Each program blends family therapy with case management to ensure that progress in the therapy room translates to stability in daily life.
The process unfolds across three core phases:
- Engagement & Motivation – Building trust, reducing conflict, and fostering hope.
- Behavior Change – Developing communication, conflict resolution, problem-solving, and emotional regulation skills.
- Generalization – Applying new skills across work, school, and community settings to sustain long-term change.
Case managers complement therapy by helping young adults secure housing, healthcare, education, transportation, and employment opportunities. This dual focus ensures that both relational and practical needs are met—addressing not just symptoms of instability, but the root causes.
Real Impact, Backed by Evidence
Functional Family Therapy- Adult is more than a promising idea, it’s a rigorously researched, evidence-based intervention. Studies show it can:
- Reduce recidivism by 20–60%
- Improve treatment compliance and program completion rates
- Increase employment and educational engagement
- Strengthen family resilience and communication
Its adaptability makes it well-suited for diverse populations and justice settings, from community reentry programs to statewide system reforms.
A Smarter Path Forward
Justice-involved young adults carry enormous potential. With the right support, they can build healthy relationships, secure meaningful work, and reintegrate into their communities with purpose. FFT-A recognizes that change doesn’t happen in isolation, it happens in the context of family, connection, and community.
For organizational leaders, FFT-A offers more than an intervention. It provides a comprehensive, evidence-based framework that drives measurable outcomes while treating young adults with dignity and humanity.
As Anderson and Sexton remind us, the goal is not just to reduce recidivism, but to build “a secure base for young adults to reintegrate into society, pursue education or employment, and build healthy relationships.” By investing in approaches like FFT-A, communities can reduce recidivism, strengthen families, and unlock pathways to a more hopeful future for young adults once considered “too far gone.”
Further Reading
Functional Family Therapy-Adult: An Evidence-Based, Family-Focused Model to Work with Young Adults in the Criminal Justice System
By Marta Anderson, LCSW, and Thomas L. Sexton, Ph.D., ABPP
Published in the Journal of Community Justice, Spring 2025 (Vol. 34, No. 3)
This recent publication explores how FFT-A strengthens family systems, fosters autonomy, and delivers measurable results for justice-involved young adults.