BETHLEHEM, PA (9/27/19) – Valley Youth House (VYH) is proud to announce that they were chosen by FFT LLC to be a host site of the FFT (Functional Family Therapy) Externship Program. From September 24-26, 2019, ten Functional Family Therapists from sites around the world attended this training at Valley Youth House’s Program and Administrative Center in Bethlehem and will return for two more trainings in October and November. Therapists were in attendance from Australia, England, New York, Arizona, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. There are currently only two other FFT Externship Sites in the United States: Los Angeles and Atlanta.

FFT helps to achieve positive family functioning through the implementation of this specific treatment model, aimed at youth who have demonstrated a range of delinquent and maladaptive behaviors, including mental health diagnoses, Conduct Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Disruptive Behavior Disorder, delinquency or are at risk for violence.

The FFT Externship Program is a live training where FFT practitioners from around the world attend to grow their skills in the FFT clinical model under the supervision of National Consultants from FFT LLC. Externs will meet with families while being observed remotely and offered “real time” feedback. This feedback from experts in the model has an immediate impact on the therapist’s work and ensures that the family is receiving the highest level FFT services.

Michael Ramsey M.S. LPC, Valley Youth House, Program Supervisor, Functional Family Therapy Program remarks, “FFT LLC is very selective in choosing host sites, so it is an great honor to have been chosen to host these important trainings. Since the FFT Externship program provides supervision and live training that helps therapists take their services to the next level, the FFT families participating in the program are the ones who ultimately benefit.”

After service completion, 77% of VYH families in the FFT program reported reduced family conflict and improved communication skills. 78% of VYH parents in this program reported improved parenting skills and 93% of VYH youth participants in this program were not referred to the local county juvenile justice department during the course of the program.

Functional Family Therapy is currently being implemented in 45 states and 10 countries around the world. Valley Youth House has been offering this evidence-based service to Lehigh Valley families since 2001.

About Valley Youth House
Valley Youth House (valleyyouthhouse.org) does more than just provide homes for Pennsylvania’s vulnerable, abused, and homeless youth. We partner with thousands of individuals each year to build a solid foundation for young people and their families. With dedicated street outreach, housing, counseling, skills training, health, prevention, and intervention services, we empower resilient young people in establishing promising futures.

 

Information & Image Provided By:
Emily Conners
Valley Youth House Development Officer
https://www.valleyyouthhouse.org/

---