River Oak Center for Children: Multi-dimensional Treatment Foster Care

Five-year-old foster child Melanie, like most children her age, knows how to throw a tantrum. Except in Melanie's case, her tantrums would typically last for three or four hours. She would scream at the top of her lungs, bite and kick anyone around her, and would push her younger sister around any chance she could get.

Melanie's behaviors were a reflection of her past trauma. She had been removed from her home by Child Protective Services (CPS) and - because of her severe behaviors - had gone through four foster placements before coming to River Oak's Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care (MTFC) program. MTFC, an effective practice based on research, helps to decrease problem behaviors in children and youth who are in need of out-of-home placement so as to avoid disruptions in placement.

River Oak clinical team members placed Melanie with a new foster family who received support, skills training and behavior management techniques to maintain Melanie in their care while Melanie received therapeutic services. Through weekly meetings, 24/7 availability of staff, and daily contact with the foster family, Melanie's behaviors improved dramatically. Meanwhile, River Oak therapists worked with Melanie's biological parents by training them in parenting skills and how to effectively manage Melanie's behaviors, with the goal of reunifying the family.

Through hard work on everyone's part, Melanie was able to maintain her foster placement for six months until she was able to return home to her biological parents. She has been living at home for four months now and she is doing extremely well. She has been able to stay in school, plays well with other children, and is getting along with her sister. Her parents feel better capable to address any issues that come up on a day-to-day basis, knowing that they have a support system in place in case they need help. Both CPS and River Oak will be discharging the family soon!

Children are referred to the MTFC program by Sacramento County Child Protective Services or Sacramento County Probation Department.