Family critical time intervention: Mother and child outcomes

In the efforts to end family homelessness, many are calling for an increase in availability of housing programs that include services. Many models of this type of housing exist, however few have been studied in a randomized controlled design which examines outcomes for both the mothers and children. This lack of rigorous research has resulted in a dearth of evidence-based practices and programs available for replication and dissemination. This study has resulted in findings of significant positive effects of the intervention on children in the homeless families we studied.

The Family Critical Time Intervention (F-CTI) study, funded by SAMHSA and NIMH was conducted in Westchester County, NY. The intervention was an adaptation of the evidence-based program CTI, originally designed to assist chronically homeless men in NY City.

The study design includes up to 24 month follow up on mothers and children in homeless families. Outcomes will be presented in domains of residential stability, family composition (as children leave and return), mother's mental health, children's mental health and child school outcomes.

This study contributes to knowledge of what works for these challenged families in several areas. First, it provides insights into some of the impacts of homelessness on families; second, it begins to build the evidence needed to move housing programs for families into the realm of evidence-based practices; and third, it shows how children were positively impacted by the FCTI program.