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Agency Description
"Washington State has been at the forefront
of child abuse prevention. Two programs started
here are so successful they've become role
models for other states...One is called
HOMEBUILDERS. ~ ABC World News Tonight"
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The Institute for Family Development is a recognized leader in the development of innovative services that help families thrive.
Located in Washington State, with training services delivered across the United States and internationally, the Institute offers new solutions to the complex problems facing families today.
Please take a few minutes to explore this website, and learn more about the Institute's service programs, professional training and consultation options, and employment opportunities.
HOMEBUILDERS
The Institute has received international recognition for its HOMEBUILDERS program, an intensive, in-home family counseling and skill-building program that is designed to keep children safe, improve family functioning, and prevent the unnecessary removal of children into state custody. HOMEBUILDERS is the oldest and best-documented family preservation program in the country. In the early 1990s, 13 states set the characteristics of the program in statute, and the Washington State Legislature has implemented the model statewide.
The HOMEBUILDERS program has been designated a model program for preventing juvenile delinquency by the United States Office of Juvenile Justice and the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention. In 1999, HOMEBUILDERS was singled out as a "particularly effective family reunification program" in a 1999 report by the United States Surgeon General, "Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General". The report points to the fact that HOMEBUILDERS has helped 75-90% of participating children avoid placement out of the family home, and reduced the cost of services.
Click here for more information about HOMEBUILDERS.
Other Programs
The Institute offers a range of in-home and community-based programs through a variety of human service systems, including child welfare, mental health, and juvenile justice. Our programs serve over 1000 troubled families each year throughout Washington State, and in Portland, Oregon. While each program is designed to meet the unique needs of the targeted population, all are based on the HOMEBUILDERS model of working with families to reduce service barriers and improve family functioning.
Click here for more information about our other programs.
Training
The Institute provides technical assistance and training to staff from public and private agencies from across the United States and internationally, who wish to replicate or learn from our program experiences. Training options range from 1-day workshops to comprehensive site development programs. The Institute is an approved provider of continuing education hours for a variety of human services professionals.
Click here for more information about the training we offer.
Evaluation
The Institute holds itself accountable for providing only services that can demonstrate their effectiveness. We have a long-standing commitment to using research and evaluation to guide program development. Client service outcomes, consumer satisfaction, and adherence to program standards are routinely evaluated. We evaluate our own programs, and offer program evaluation services to other agencies.
Click here for more information about evaluation of our programs.
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