TFCO FACT SHEETS For the first time in Australia, Treatment Foster Care Oregon (TFCO) – an evidence-based, internationally successful program is providing an alternative to residential care and getting kids with problem behaviours back to a stable, family life. WHY IS THERE A NEED FOR TFCO? Treatment Foster Care Oregon (TFCO) is the only known empirically proven therapeutic foster care model alternative to residential care placements. The program targets children and young people in residential care or at risk of entering into residential care because of very serious emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. HOW DOES TFCO ACTUALLY WORK? TFCO has placement duration of six to nine months. At the end of the placement, the young person is reunified with their biological family (including kinship care placements), or placed in lower intensity long-term foster care or permanent care. TFCO uses a behaviour modification program based on age-appropriate rewards. For adolescents, a three-level point system provides structured daily feedback, while the younger children receive material rewards. The TFCO program tracks the child or young person’s behaviour in a Parent Daily Report. The young person or child earns and loses points or rewards based on their daily behaviour, which influences their level of freedom from adult supervision. The model teaches interpersonal skills and encourages participation in positive social activities including sports and hobbies. The young person’s treatment consists of a one hour weekly individual therapy session and two hour weekly individual skills training. They are coached through supported practice in community settings, and supported to build a range of coping strategies and problem solving skills to address areas of difficulty in their lives. TFCO foster care Treatment Foster Care Oregon ® is delivered by OzChild and Anglicare Victoria in conjunction with VACCA and supported by the Victorian State Government. Children aged between 7–12 years old in the TFCO Program will be managed by OzChild Children aged between 12-17 years old in the TFCO Program will be managed by Anglicare Victoria TFCO HAS BEEN TAILORED FOR TWO AGE GROUPS: 7-12 YR OLDS AND 12-17 YR OLDS
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TFCO FACT SHEETSFor the first time in Australia,
Treatment Foster Care Oregon (TFCO) – an evidence-based,
internationally successful program is providing an alternative to
residential care and getting kids with problem behaviours back
to a stable, family life.
WHY IS THERE A NEED FOR TFCO?Treatment Foster Care Oregon (TFCO) is the only known empirically proven therapeutic foster care model alternative to residential care placements. The program targets children and young people in residential care or at risk of entering into residential care because of very serious emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.
HOW DOES TFCO ACTUALLY WORK?TFCO has placement duration of six to nine months. At the end of the placement, the young person is reunified with their biological family (including kinship care placements), or placed in lower intensity long-term foster care or permanent care.
TFCO uses a behaviour modification program based on age-appropriate rewards. For adolescents, a three-level point system provides structured daily feedback, while the younger children receive material rewards.
The TFCO program tracks the child or young person’s behaviour in a Parent Daily Report. The young person or child earns and loses points or rewards based on their daily behaviour, which influences their level of freedom from adult supervision.
The model teaches interpersonal skills and encourages participation in positive social activities including sports and hobbies. The young person’s treatment consists of a one hour weekly individual therapy session and two hour weekly individual skills training. They are coached through supported practice in community settings, and supported to build a range of coping strategies and problem solving skills to address areas of difficulty in their lives.
TFCO foster care
Treatment Foster Care Oregon® is delivered by OzChild and Anglicare Victoria in conjunction with VACCA and supported by the Victorian State Government.
Children aged between 7–12 years old in the TFCO Program will be managed by OzChild
Children aged between 12-17 years old in the TFCO Program will be managed by Anglicare Victoria
TFCO HAS BEEN TAILORED FOR TWO AGE GROUPS: 7-12 YR OLDS AND 12-17 YR OLDS
WHAT SORT OF SUPPORT DOES A TFCO CARER RECEIVE?For TFCO carers, there are typically a minimum of seven contacts per week: five 10-minute contacts, one two-hour group, and additional contacts based on the amount of support or consultation required. The biological family or long-term placement carer attends a one-hour family therapy session per week.
Families participate in the family therapy component of treatment and will be engaged in services immediately upon placement in the program. Referral information will identify the family which the child will reside with on a longterm basis. Birth families or long-term carers are provided with training and support to ensure that they can continue to support the young person when they leave the TFCO program.
TFCO Foster Carers will receive a reimbursement that reflects the intensity of the program they are operating within and the complexity of the children and young people that they will be caring for.
HOW LONG IS THE DURATION OF A TFCO CARE PLACEMENT?TFCO is designed to work in six to nine months only. This duration is long enough for the TFCO team and foster carer to provide intensive support and coaching to the child and family, preparing them with the attitudes, behaviours and skills they need to return to live stably in a family environment.
WHAT DO I NEED TO BE A TFCO FOSTER CARER?To be a TFCO Foster Carer you will need to be:
• Over 21 years old
• Have a spare bedroom
• Have a current driver’s licence
• Be able and willing to be closely supervised and guided by others, take instruction and follow an exact program of care
• Be flexible and available enough that you can be home or at school for your foster child, any time of the day or night and when needed
• Excited to see positive change in a child or young person’s behaviour
TFCO foster care
We are seeing change day by day, week by week. Their social skills are improved and they are motivated. We focus on one goal at a time and it builds up to make a big difference…”
- TFCO Foster Carer, UK
Treatment Foster Care Oregon® is delivered by OzChild and Anglicare Victoria in conjunction with VACCA and supported by the Victorian State Government.
You will be supported by a professional team whose skills and methods will ensure that you know exactly what to do to achieve success.
You will be given guidance on how to teach children to socialise positively, engage in healthy community activities, build coping strategies and develop problem solving skills.
TFCO TEAM SUPPORT
TFCO LEADER 01
Responsible for the team, all decisions
and planning
CARER SUPPORTER 02
Recruits, assesses, trains and supports TFCO foster carers
FAMILY SUPPORTER 03
Works with the family to help plan for the child’s return home
CHILD SUPPORTER
04Works with the child
to develop their social and individual skills
SKILLS COACH
05Regular sessions with
the child to link to community activities
SCHOOL SPECIALIST
06Provides specialist support to the child
and their school.
FACT SHEETS
WHERE DOES TFCO OPERATE?TFCO Carers will need to be living approximately in the Dandenong, Mordialloc, Frankston, Cranbourne, Mornington Peninsula, Pakenham, Koo Wee Rup or Langwarrin areas.
However, if you live outside of these areas but you’re interested in becoming a TFCO Carer, please call us to discuss our other foster care programs in other regions.
TFCO foster careFACT SHEETS
MORDIALLOC
DANDENONG NORTH
DANDENONG
NARRE WARREN
CRANBOURNE
FRANKSTON
LANGWARRINSOUTH
MORNINGTON
MERRICKSNORTH
OFFICERSOUTH
PAKENHAMSOUTH
DEVONMEADOWS
PAKENHAM
Treatment Foster Care Oregon® is delivered by OzChild and Anglicare Victoria in conjunction with VACCA and supported by the Victorian State Government.
HOW IS TFCO DIFFERENT TO OTHER TYPES OF FOSTER CARE?The most fundamental difference between TFCO and other types of foster care is that this model is backed by empirical evidence of success across many different cultures, age groups and both boys and girls overseas.
For TFCO to work however, it’s vital that every member of the team, including the foster carer, follow the TFCO program exactly as planned.
The main characteristics of TFCO are:
TFCO foster careFACT SHEETS
AN EXACT PROGRAM GUIDETFCO Carers are closely supervised daily, directed and must follow the exact instruction in this highly prescriptive program.
SHORT TERMThis program only needs six to nine months to make positive changes in a child’s behaviour, enabling them to live well in a stable family environment.
FLEXIBILITYTFCO Carers will need to be available for their foster child if needed at any time day or night. A demanding full time job may not suit this type of care.
HIGHLY SUPPORTIVETFCO Carers will be supported 24/7 by a team of six professionals, daily calls, financial reimbursements and a respite carer as needed.
SPECIFIC AGE GROUPSThis program supports 7–12 year olds (through OzChild) and 12–17 year olds (through Anglicare).
LOCATIONTFCO Carers will live in the Dandenong, Modialloc, Frankston, Pakenham, Cranbourne, Langwarrin and / or Mornington Peninsula areas.
WE NEED TFCO FOSTER CARERS!
To join this pioneering program, train as a TFCO Foster Carer and see positive change for kids, contact one of our representatives today
“It’s hard to start with, but now I’m nicer to people, I don’t smoke anymore and since being in the program I’m in school and on a college course.”
- TFCO Foster Child, UK
Treatment Foster Care Oregon® is delivered by OzChild and Anglicare Victoria in conjunction with VACCA and supported by the Victorian State Government.
