Family Relational Therapy Program Evaluation

Project Overview:

The Texas Institute for Child & Family Wellbeing has been contracted by The Center for Child Protection to develop an evaluation plan for the Family Relational Therapy parenting intervention, a model designed for families at high risk for having children removed and placed into foster care. The model incorporates the Nuerosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT) into its assessment of parents and tailors core curriculum content into therapists’ home visits with families.

Families involved with the child welfare system have often experienced multigenerational abuse or neglect. Children and caregivers may have experienced traumatic events that have impacted them in significant ways. In order for a child to heal from adverse experiences, they need the support of a stable, caring, and informed caregiver. The Center for Child Protection aims to provide caregivers with the tools they need to support their child and family through difficult experiences.

The Center for Child Protection is a nationally accredited children’s advocacy center and has provided services for over 25 years to suspected victims of sexual abuse, physical abuse, and neglect, and to children who have witnessed a violent crime. Services include forensic interviews, medical exams, counseling, intervention during investigation, and prosecution of child abuse cases. All services are available to children and caregivers at no charge in English and Spanish.

Research Activities:

To develop an evaluation plan for this project, TXICFW will conduct the following research activities:

  1. Conduct a literature review
  2. Develop a Logic Model
  3. Create interview and survey materials in collaboration with The Center for Child Protection program staff to use with their clients.