Child, Adolescent Family Intervention Science Initiative (CAFSI)
CAFSI is a project funded by Indiana University to develop a statewide research, training, technical assistance center for the implementation and study of evidence based what works prevention and treatment methods and programs for children and adolescents at-risk for learning and behavior problems.The project is unique in that it brings together experts in a range of areas of at risk youth (Education, Psychology, Family Intervention Science) to create a project that can both serve the needs of the State and result in a self-sufficient grant funded research, training, and technical assistance project.The proposed project unites previously diverse specific research agendas into a multidisciplinary team approach using experts in grant development and related content areas to develop and pursue projects that have a high probability of future funding. Furthermore, the research will take place within a systematic structure where the dissemination of research findings to relevant holder groups across the state will bring the best of science to the daily practices of individuals, agencies, and systems working with at risk youth.
The BlueSky Project: An Evidence-based System of Care
The BlueSky Project is a multiyear initiative funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation in collaboration with the Medical Center of South Carolina, and Oregon Social Learning Institute to develop an evidence based system of care for the treatment of the most severe adolescent behavior disorders. This unique project brings the developers of three of the evidence based models for helping adolescents (Multisystemic Therapy, Functional Family Therapy, and Oregon Treatment Fostercare) together to build a prototype of what may be come the future of evidence based treatment for youth with serious problems. The project will pilot in two states in Fall 2006 and is likely to leader to a number of empirical studies of the value of sequenced and seamless care for youth.
Effective Change Mechanisms in Prevention of Adolescent Drug Abuse
This is a National Institutes of Health (National Institute of Drug Abuse) grant (RO1) to investigate the change mechanisms involved in, and thereby enhance the delivery of, effective and efficacious prevention programs for indicated youth. This study examines how the competence of intervention program delivery interacts with, and possibly mediates, extant pre-intervention individual and family risk factors in terms of program outcomes. The intervention program to be studied is an empirically validated and carefully researched approach, Functional Family Therapy (FFT). The factors studied consist of multi-source, multi-systemic measures in four domains: 1) Pre-intervention characteristics of the indicated youth and parent(s) as well as family functioning and demographic variables; 2) Program characteristics, i.e., the competence with which program content is delivered, and its relationship to interventionist experience; 3) Youth and parent immediate response to intervention content and process, specifically the within session development of alliance and the reduction in negative family patterns; and 4) Program Outcomes: Dropout versus program completion (program dosage) and long-term outcome (one-year post intervention measures of youth targeted behaviors in drug and related behavioral realms).
Studies of Effectiveness of evidence-based programs for at risk youth
CAFS is conducting numerous smaller community based studies investigating the efficacy of treatment and prevention programs for adolescent behavior disorders in a variety of specific contexts:
Effective treatment for Juvenile Sex Offenders funded by the State of Washington this multiyear study investigates the efficacy of Functional Family Therapy as a treatment model for juvenile sex offenders as compared to traditional sex offender treatment programs.
Redesigning Juvenile Parole/Probation funded by the State of Washington, this multiyear study investigates the efficacy of an alternative family based parole/probation officer model for supervising youth involved in the juvenile justice system.
Functional Family Therapy in a Rural Community funded by the State of Indiana, Department of Corrections investigates the effectiveness of Functional Family Therapy in a small central Indiana community. Results of this study will form the foundation of the dissemination of an evidence based intervention program, FFT, throughout the state.
Outcome of Family Based interventions for behavior/drug abusing adolescents is a study in a large urban environment (Las Vegas Study) investigating the effectiveness of FFT when compared to alternative treatments (strength based family therapy) and treatment as usual(probation).
Role of Race and Culture in evidence based practices for at risk adolescents is a project in part funded by the City of Miami to study the effectiveness of Functional Family Therapy, an evidence based intervention program for adolescent behavior disorders, with culturally diverse youth and families. This is one of the first studies of race and culture in an evidence based intervention program.
International Research Collaborations
CAFS has also developed a series of international collaborations that are producing numerous international studies of evidence based family intevention programs in international settings. This international collaboration put CAFS into a unique role to have broad impact in research, dissemination, and teaching around the world.
International Replication of Functional Family Therapy in Amsterdam, NL. Is a study funded by the City of Amsterdam to investigate the cultural viability of a US evidence based intervention program in an international setting. This study is in collaboration with de Bascule (a major mental health center), the Free University of Amsterdam, the Ministry of Health and Justice (Netherlands). This is the first international replication of FFT.
International Replication of Functional Family Parole in Amsterdam, NL. is an international replicationof the Functional Family Parole Program.