The Family Intensive Treatment (FIT) Team recognizes the need for continued family-centered services for parents and caregivers seeking permanency for their children.

This six (6) month program is backed by a team-based model that offers 24/7 access to crisis intervention and support services to enhance strength and protective factors and decrease the need for out of home placements.

• Screening & Assessment
• Individualized Treatment Plans
• Continuing Care
• Peer Support

FIT offers intensive treatment options to encourage parental behavior change related to substance use and mental health that educate parents on ways to foster their ability to provide parental care.

• Counseling | Free in-home counseling to assist parents and caregivers in developing a safe, nurture, and stable environment for children.
• Case-Management | A wraparound approach to assist individuals and families in identifying their unique strengths.
• Parenting Education | Develop effective parenting skills and practices that promote a natural support system within the parent-child relationship.

The FIT Team can accept families referred by the child protective investigator, child welfare case manager or Community-Based Care Lead Agency. Providers and stakeholders working with child welfare families, such as engagement programs and the dependency court system, can also refer eligible parent(s)/guardian(s).

The FIT Team shall deliver services to parent(s)/guardian(s) who meet all the following criteria:

• Are eligible for publicly funded substance use and mental health services pursuant to s. 394.674, F.S.; including persons meeting all other eligibility criteria who are under insured.
• Meet the diagnostic criteria for a substance use disorder.
• Have at least one child between the ages of 0 and 10 years old; and
• At the time of referral to FIT: A child in the family has been determined to be “unsafe” and in need of child welfare case management (judicial or non-judicial) and placed in-home or out-of-home.
• At the time of referral to FIT: For children in out-of-home care, the family must have a child welfare case management plan with a primary goal of reunification.
• At the time of referral to FIT: The eligible parent(s)/guardian(s) are willing to participate in the FIT Program or the caregiver is court ordered to participate in FIT services.

Referal Form Download

Meghan McCloskey LMHC