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Maine Family Home Program
Established in 1988, the Maine Family Home Program (MFHP) represents a statewide effort to provide humane and effective services to help children, families, and other child welfare organizations. MFHP is committed to making a positive difference for youths by equipping the adults most directly involved in their lives with training and support; this, in turn, allows the youths under their guidance to become confident, competent, and caring individuals.
The Cognitive/Behavioral Teaching Approach to Treatment
The cognitive/behavioral teaching approach to treatment is designed to achieve several goals. First, the approach provides child-care workers with specific techniques to guide their work with challenged children. Staff teaches children problem-solving skills and appropriate behaviors so they can take control of their own lives. Second, the approach allows staff to prevent needless confrontations with children and to establish positive relationships with them. Third, the cognitive/behavioral teaching approach to treatment provides agencies with a format for integrating staff support systems, training, and quality assurance. Finally, the approach adheres to the National Performance Standards for Residential Care.
The cognitive/behavioral teaching approach to treatment combines science-based technology with old-fashioned love and respect for children. Based on a youth's referral diagnosis, the treatment team identifies several problem areas that are the focus of the youth's individualized treatment plan. Team members then focus their combined observations and treatment techniques to design effective youth target skill plans in order to effectively address the identified problem behaviors.
Once the target skills for a youth are defined, staff utilize a definitive treatment planning process to help remediate youth skill deficiencies. This process includes establishing a baseline, setting goals, and forming strategies to direct staff interventions.
Subsequent to the implementation of the skill-based teaching plan, the staff meets to review the treatment goals that were set with the youth and the progress that has been made. Part of this process is comparing the youth's current level of functioning in the targeted skill area with the baseline data that was recorded initially. When the goals for this level of performance are consistently achieved, a decision is made to focus treatment efforts on other prioritized skill deficits. Successful completion of the program is determined by each youth's progress.
Services Provided by Maine Family Home Program
MFHP supports administrators by assisting them in training their staff for employment as Family Teachers. Newly hired staff experiences a year-long training process, beginning with a 40 hour Pre-Service and continuing with a wide range of in-service training thereafter. To help staff develop their professional skills, MFHP pairs emotional support with direct observation and feedback on treatment and utilization of the model. MFHP staff regularly observe and assess staff's technical and professional skills. Quality assurance facilitates continuous improvement in service. Finally, MFHP support staff monitors record keeping and accountability procedures in each home.
Programs and Trainings Available through Maine Family Home Program
MFHP offers staff training, consultation, and quality assurance services to group homes, as well as a wide range of programs to other groups. MFHP offers support services to meet the needs of treatment foster parents as well as home-based services for high-risk families. Common sense parenting training and educators' workshops are also available. In addition, MFHP runs special topics workshops on a variety of issues related to children.
For more information about the program, please contact the Program Coordinator at (207) 444-5152 ext. 249.
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