Patterns of Treatment/Therapeutic Foster Care and Congregate Care Placements in Three States

This report provides a quantitative analysis of three states’ use of therapeutic foster care, an intensive, treatment-focused form of foster care provided in a family setting by trained caregivers. The initial phase of this study examined how TFC is defined, implemented and supported across different states. This report examines the characteristics and care trajectories of children in Illinois, New York, and Tennessee who receive TFC services compared with those receiving congregate care, traditional, non-kinship foster care, and kinship foster care. Additionally, this study seeks to understand whether TFC serves a similar population as congregate care and thus could help states meet the new requirements of the federal government to reduce congregate care placements, as outlined in the Family First Prevention Services Act.