Multidimensional Family Therapy (MDFT) is an innovative and evidence-based family-driven drug abuse recovery program for adolescents and their families. MDFT is recognized as one of the most promising interventions for substance abuse, working with families in their home, school and community. MDFT looks at all of the components in a teen’s life to promote positive, long term change.
The MDFT Training Program is based on 25 years of experience at the University of Miami Training and Supervising family therapists in research and MDFT dissemination efforts. Outside In began MDFT in March 2009. The clinical staff of Outside In has found that the operating principles of MDFT relate well to the work that has been taking place in our agency for years.
MDFT is effective in helping youth ages 11-21 with substance abuse. Families who are experiencing some type of family or parent/child issue should consider participation in the service. Communication breakdown, limited parental ability, lack of respect for parental authority, parents who cannot control child’s behavior, truancy, substance use by parents placing the adolescent at risk, single parent families, blended families are all examples of issues and concerns that MDFT can help to resolve and improve.
MDFT focuses on all of the areas and relationships that shape a young person’s life:
- Family
- Peers
- Neighborhood & community networks
- School performance
These areas help families eliminate drug use and strengthen relationships. Family members and therapists design a program collaboratively to meet goals and needs. This creates a productive therapeutic relationship and creates opportunities for change. Our goals are to help adolescents improve relationships with family and peers, make healthier choices and promote recovery.
MDFT helps youth & families:
- Understand the youth’s difficulties and the factors which contribute to them
- Increase parental commitment and empower parents to address the needs of the youth more effectively through improved parental skills
- Increase the parent’s and youth’s ability and motivation to understand one another
- Establish interdependence among family members
- Promote a healthy self image in parents and youth
- Create positive peer relations and improved school involvement
- Achieve long term change that they can maintain after the program
- Reduce the possibility of out of home placement
Eligibility Requirements:
- Westmoreland County Children’s Bureau and Juvenile Probation Officer (JPO)
- Value Behavioral Health (MA)
For more information about the MDFT evidence based program, please visit mdft.org.