The implementation and the cultural adjustment of functional family therapy in a Dutch psychiatric day-treatment center.
Because of the increasing severity of adolescent problem behavior, evidence-based practices are becoming of interest as an alternative to traditional treatment with the behavior problems of adolescents in juvenile justice settings. Despite interest in evidence-based practices, questions exist regarding whether or not evidence-based intervention models can be successfully transported to cultures other than those in which they were developed. This article describes the transportation process of an American evidence-based family therapy (Functional Family Therapy [FFT]) into the service delivery system of a psychiatric day treatment center for juvenile delinquents in Amsterdam. The characteristics of FFT that make it cross-culturally sensitive are discussed. Results from the changes in service delivery suggest FFT can be successfully implemented in international settings with adjustments to make the model fit the culture(s) of The Netherlands without changing the model of FFT itself.
Breuk
Rene E
RE
De Bascule, Department for Adolescent and Forensic Psychiatry, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. r.breuk@debascule.com
Sexton
Thomas L
TL
van Dam
Astrid
A
Disse
Claudia
C
Doreleijers
Theo A H
TA
Slot
Wim N
WN
Rowland
Marcy K
MK
D000293:Adolescent; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D003479:Curriculum; D003631:Day Care, Medical; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D004500:Education, Graduate; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005196:Family Therapy / Q000193:education; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009426:Netherlands; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology*; D011361:Professional Competence; D014481:United States