Treatment Foster Care Oregon^™

The Treatment Foster Care Oregon (TFCO) model was developed as an alternative to institutional, residential, and group care placements for children and youth with severe emotional and behavioral disorders. Multiple randomized trials confirm a number of positive results. The model is tailored to the unique developmental needs of children across the ages. TFCO was developed in 1983 following Oregon Social Learning Center (OSLC) research trials. TFC Consultants, Inc. was founded in 2002 and provides guidance, training, and technical assistance to new and existing TFCO programs and helps service providers, policymakers, and community leaders resolve issues related to the implementation of evidence-based practices.

Objectives of TFCO

The two main goals of TFCO are to create opportunities for youth to successfully live in a family setting and to simultaneously help parents (or other long-term family resource) provide effective parenting.

TFCO focuses on five key areas:

• A consistent, reinforcing environment with mentoring and encouragement.
• Daily structure with clear expectations and specific consequences.
• A high level of youth supervision.
• Limited access to problem peers along with access to prosocial peers.
• An environment that supports daily school attendance and homework completion.

Services

Youths served in TFCO reside in the TFCO treatment home for approximately nine months. The homes receive initial and ongoing training, daily monitoring, weekly group support, and in-the-moment coaching. Youth in TFCO receive weekly support to navigate the program and practice problem-solving, coping, and other skills individualized for their particular needs. Families participate in weekly services, which focus on coaching them through essential techniques to regain confidence and effectiveness with their youth. The TFCO program is available 24/7 for quick and effective responses to situations and behaviors.

TFCO has proven to:

1. Prevent or reduce the number of days in institutional or residential settings
2. Prevent the escalation of delinquency, youth violence, and pregnancy
3. Increase positive academic engagement
4. Reduce placement disruptions
5. Increase attachment
6. Improve brain stress regulatory systems