Intensive Family-Based ProgramThe Intensive Family Intervention (IFI) program is for families with children and teens who are experiencing prolonged distress and crises.
IFI family therapy services are conducted at home, school, or in the community. The focus: strengthen and stabilize the family, their home environment, and prevent out-of-home placements like hospitalization. IFI services also assist youth re-entering their homes after receiving higher levels of care. |
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IFI Teams
All teams include three team members: a team leader, an individual and family therapist, and a community support individual.
IFI is a short-term program, three to six months. Using a solution-focused approach, each family’s unique needs are accessed and safety concerns are addressed. IFI teams use a variety of therapeutic approaches (interpersonal, DBT, CBT, strengths-based) to teach and reinforce new ways to manage problematic behaviors and enrich family connections.
Meet our IFI Team Manager and Leads, here.
All teams include three team members: a team leader, an individual and family therapist, and a community support individual.
IFI is a short-term program, three to six months. Using a solution-focused approach, each family’s unique needs are accessed and safety concerns are addressed. IFI teams use a variety of therapeutic approaches (interpersonal, DBT, CBT, strengths-based) to teach and reinforce new ways to manage problematic behaviors and enrich family connections.
Meet our IFI Team Manager and Leads, here.
Benefits for youth, schools, and communities
- Crisis response - working with families, school staff, and, community personnel.
- Assessment for safety (1013 if necessary) and crisis de-escalation.
- Development of safety and crisis plans.
- Individual therapy to teach and practice strategies for managing distress, impulse control, and increasing emotional regulation.
- Family therapy to support caregiver needs, recognize strengths, identify support systems, coach through use of skills.
- Community support to assess and research appropriate resources for families; develop plans to connect families to resources that will allow for increased success; reinforce skill-building.
- Collaboration with teachers, social workers, and community workers to develop intervention strategies based on emotional/ behavioral needs.
- Attendance at 504 or IEP meetings if desired by school and caregiver(s).
- A Community Support Individual (CSI) can be available to accompany children for periods in school and community settings if appropriate.
- Communication regarding medication needs and compliance.
Service Criteria
Youth who benefit from IFI service:
Youth who benefit from IFI service:
- Aggression or attempted aggression (hitting people/ walls/ objects, spitting, throwing things, property destruction).
- Ongoing suspensions from school.
- Risk of expulsion from school or placement in an alternative school setting.
- Removal from daycare or other community settings.
- Suicidal thoughts or plans.
- Homicidal thoughts or plans.
- Attempt to inflict harm to animals.
- Sexually inappropriate behaviors.
- Running away from school or home.
- Substance abuse creating dangerous situations.
- Other high-risk behaviors that cause safety concerns.
- DJJ involvement from illegal behaviors, or risk of DJJ involvement.
- Placement disruption(s) due to concerning behaviors.
- Hospitalization at a crisis stabilization unit (CSU).
- The family feels the child or youth may need inpatient hospitalization.
