EBPs in Virginia
✯Brief Strategic Family Therapy
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Age Range: 6-17
Problem area: Dysfunctional family patterns; Poor parent mental health
Treatment outcomes: Lower likelihood of future law involvement
Treatment length: 3-5 months
Marker for client fit: All family members in need of change, not just child, youth with co-occurring disorders
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Overview of relevant Title IV-E Clearninghouse evidence surrounding BSFT.
Presented by Program Developer Olga Hervis, MSW.
Link to criteria for BSFT team listing in the EBP Finder
Purveyor Website: Family Therapy Training Institute of Miami
Dialectical Behavior Therapy
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Age range: 13-18 for Adolescents; 18+ for Adults
Problem area: DBT is designed for teens and adults with difficulty regulating their emotions. This includes people with borderline personality disorder, suicidality, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, and substance use disorders. (https://preventionservices.acf.hhs.gov/programs/782/show)
Treatment outcomes: The goal of DBT is to improve emotional well-being by targeting four core skill sets including mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. DBT is associated with less drug and alcohol misuse, reduced self-harm behaviors, improved depressive symptoms, and fewer days of inpatient hospitalization. The four pillars of DBT include individual therapy, group skills training, phone coaching, and crisis support. (https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/22838-dialectical-behavior-therapy-dbt; https://www.dbtclb.com/blog/dbt-therapy-benefits)
Treatment length: 6 - 13 months or 24 - 52 weeks depending on an individual’s unique needs. Length of individual session may depend on delivery mode including:
Individual Sessions: 45 to 60 Minutes
Group Skills Training: 1.5 to 2.5 Hours
(https://www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/dialectical-behavior-therapy-dbt; https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/22838-dialectical-behavior-therapy-dbt)
Marker for family fit: Individuals struggling with emotional intensity, relationship difficulties, self-harm behaviors, or suicidal thoughts may be a good fit for DBT. Additionally, young adults and teens needing a skills-based approach including concrete tools and strategies could benefit from DBT.
✯Functional Family Therapy
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Child age range: 11-18
Problem area: Youth substance use, disruptive behavior and conduct issues, depression; Family conflict
Treatment outcomes: Better coping skills; greater family cohesion
Treatment length: 4-8 months
Marker for client fit: Youth conduct, youth substance abuse
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EBP One-Pager: FFT
Overview of relevant Title IV-E Clearninghouse evidence surrounding FFT.
Presented by Dr. Helen Midouhas.
✯Homebuilders
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Child age range: 0-18
Problem area: Crisis; unstable living situation
Treatment outcomes: Placement stability
Treatment length: 4-6 weeks
Marker for client fit: Basic needs have yet to be met
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EBP One-Pager: HB
Overview of relevant Title IV-E Clearninghouse evidence surrounding HB.
Presented by Dr. Shelley Leavitt.
✯Multisystemic Therapy
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Child age range: 12-17
Problem area: Conduct issues; truancy; law involvement; Poor parent mental health
Treatment outcomes: Prevents out-of-home placement, law involvement; Less disruptive behavior
Treatment length: 3-5 months
Marker for client fit: Repeat court involvement
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EBP One-Pager: MST
Overview of relevant Title IV-E Clearninghouse evidence surrounding MST
Presented by Dr. Lisa Reiter
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
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Age Range: 3-18
Problem area: Children/adolescents with PTSD symptoms, dysfunctional feelings or thoughts, or behavioral challenges.
Treatment outcomes: significantly reduced trauma symptoms, improved child behavioral, emotional, and social functioning, increased positive parenting practices in caregivers, improved parent/caregiver mental/emotional health.
Treatment length: usually 12-16 weeks, can be delivered in 8 and can be longer for more complex trauma.
Marker for client fit: Children and non-offending caregivers impacted by trauma (that they can remember) that are willing and able to participate in a structured, skills-based treatment involving caregivers, psychoeducation, coping skill development, and gradually processing trauma.
EBP Comparison Resources for Providers and Community Stakeholders
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EBP Decision Making Guide with CANS (last updated February 2026)
Navigating Virginia’s Title IV-E Prevention Services Plan and Evidence-Based Programs
Navigating Evidence-Based Programs for Children and Families
Bench Card Guide to EBPs Available in Virginia
Card provided to judges across the state to increase awareness of EBPs available for youth.
Comparing EBPs to Traditional Treatment Outcomes
How to use Evidence-Based Programs in cases of Alternative Living Arrangements
Which EBP is right for your organization
Basic overview of all Virginia Family First evidence-based programs eligible for Title IV-E funding (training and reimbursement).
Assertive Community Treatment
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Age range: The individual must be 18 years or older; youth below age 18 may receive ACT if medically necessary.
Problem area: Individuals with psychiatric illnesses that are most severe and persistent, such as Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, and schizoaffective disorder.
Treatment outcomes: The goal is to improve functioning and help people in their communities and out of inpatient treatment. Secondary goals include reducing homelessness and unnecessary hospital stays. The mission of ACT is to help people become independent and integrate into the community as they experience recovery.
Needs of this population include assistance with medication management, housing, entitlements, linkage with health care, psychiatric care, family support and education, basic living skills, supportive counseling, community integration, and social support. The goal of these services is to decrease the frequency of inpatient psychiatric treatment, serve individuals in their community of choice, and assist them in their mental health recovery.
Treatment length: ACT teams deliver services in-person to individuals, averaging approximately two or more hours of services across four or more contacts per week. Teams typically meet daily to discuss consumer needs and functioning, tailoring services accordingly. Caseloads are small, with a typical staff-to-consumer ratio of approximately 1:10. The team works together to ensure individuals receive needed services. The team provides services for as long as individuals need or until discharge criteria are met.
Marker for client fit: Having a primary diagnosis of Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders, and Bipolar and Related Disorders. Experiencing major impairment in functioning in either (a) a range of routine tasks required for basic adult functioning in the community (for example, caring for personal business affairs; obtaining medical, legal, and housing services; recognizing and avoiding common dangers or hazards to self and possessions; meeting nutritional needs; attending to personal hygiene; (b) employment; (c) carrying out the head-of-household responsibilities (such as meal preparation, household tasks, budgeting, or child-care tasks and responsibilities); and (d) maintaining a safe living situation (for example, repeated evictions or loss of housing or utilities).
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Coordinated Specialty Care
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Age Range: 15-30
Problem area: Individuals experiencing first-episode psychosis (FEP), which is generally regarded as the early period (up to five years) after the onset of psychotic symptoms due to a serious mental illness (SMI) and unrelated to substance use, brain injury, or other non-SMI medical issues (e.g., dementia).Treatment outcomes: To provide treatment and recovery support so that individuals have the best chance possible to live their lives and not be disabled by a mental illness as they transition into adult roles.
Reducing hospitalizations, improving education and employment rates, reducing symptoms, and keeping people connected to their social networks.
Treatment length: Up to 2 years.
Marker for client fit: Having a primary diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, schizophreniform disorder, other specified schizophrenia spectrum, other psychotic disorder, or affective disorder with psychosis, specifically bipolar disorder with psychotic features and major depression with psychotic features. Experiencing a first episode of psychosis (FEP) and major impairment in functioning in either symptom management, educational/vocational functioning, social/interpersonal functioning, independent living skills, and community integration.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
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Age Range: 3-18
Problem area: Individuals experiencing distress related to trauma as well as other related mental health conditions such as pain, anxiety, or mood.
Treatment outcomes: Reduction in trauma symptoms and related distress; improved well being and quality of life.
Treatment length: 8 phases; usually 50 or 90 minute weekly sessions. Number of sessions dependent on complexity of history/severity of trauma.
Marker for client fit: Experiencing considerable acute distress related to trauma as well as other mental health conditions. May be especially supportive in bypassing language barriers or those with difficulty in oral communication.
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Family Centered Treatment
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Age Range: Families with youth.
Problem area: Families experiencing difficulties related to circumstances such as child welfare, substance abuse, developmental disabilities, juvenile justice.
Treatment outcomes: Positive placement at closure; improvement of family life.
Treatment length: Determined according to need; often 2 or more times per week for about 6 months.
Marker for client fit: Those who have trauma exposure as well as histories and experiences of difficult to manage behaviors and juvenile justice involvement. Those who are at imminent risk of out-of-home placement, are engaging in active reunification work, or otherwise involved with the child welfare system.
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Overview of relevant Title IV-E Clearninghouse evidence surrounding FCU
Presented by Dr. Anne Marie Mauricio and Dr. Elizabeth Stormshak
Link to criteria for FCT team listing in the EBP Finder
✯Family Check-Up
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Age range: 2-17
Problem area: Any issue plus lack of motivation for treatment; disengaged family members
Treatment outcomes: Greater likelihood to engage in treatment that follows; Family wellbeing
Treatment length: 1-4 months
Marker for client fit: High risk for treatment dropout .
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Overview of relevant Title IV-E Clearninghouse evidence surrounding FCU.
Presented by Dr. Anne Marie Mauricio and Dr. Elizabeth Stormshak.
Link to criteria for FCU team listing in the EBP Finder
✯High Fidelity Wraparound
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Child age range: 0-21
Problem area: Complex behavioral/emotional/mental health needs
Treatment outcomes: Positive effects on school functioning, mental health symptoms and functioning, and residential outcomes for diverse youth populations
Treatment length: Varies based on need
Marker for client fit: Need for service coordination between multiple care providers
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EBP One-Pager: HFW
Overview of relevant Title IV-E Clearninghouse evidence surrounding HFW
Link to criteria for HFW team listing in the EBP Finder
✯Motivational Interviewing
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Child age range: Usually targets caregivers, though may be useful for children/adolescents.
Problem area: Ambivalence toward changing behaviors across a range of concerns (e.g., substance use, treatment engagement, school attendance, family conflict).
Treatment outcomes: Increased intrinsic motivation for change, reduced resistance to treatment, increased treatment engagement/adherence.
Treatment length: Usually brief (1-6 sessions) though can be part of a longer term treatment plan.
Marker for client fit: Families that are hesitant toward change behaviors though are open to discussing, families that would strongly benefit from a non-confrontational, collaborative approach that emphasizes autonomy and reduces blame.
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy
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Child age range: 2-7
Problem area: Defiance, aggression, extreme mood swings; ineffective social skills; safety concerns
Treatment outcomes: Positive parenting skills; decreased parent sadness and irritability; Stronger parent-child bond
Treatment length: ~6 months, but depends on family progress
Marker for client fit: Parent willingness to learn new skills
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EBP One-Pager: PCIT
Overview of relevant Title IV-E Clearninghouse evidence surrounding PCIT
Presented by Andrea Carpenter, LPC
Link to criteria for PCIT team listing in the EBP Finder
PCIT Outcomes and Benefits One-Pager
A more in-depth look at the proven benefits of PCIT, compiled by CEP-Va staff using studies cited in the Title IV-E Clearinghouse.