The goal of the program is to provide children with the most stable, least restrictive home environments possible by providing their caregivers the necessary skills to reduce problem behaviors and build healthy relationships. It is the first statewide initiative in the country based on applied behavior analysis to offer systematic assistance to those who provide care to children in the foster care system. According to DCF, the average monthly foster care population in Florida is between 9,500 and 10,000 children.
Most children come into foster care because of neglect, abandonment, or abuse.
As a result of their experiences, many children in the foster care system may exhibit behaviors that are challenging to their caregivers. In turn, those behaviors may then result in multiple home and school placements, or placements in more restrictive settings. The program, using teams of behavior analysts, will provide training and technical assistance to foster parents, family members, teachers, or other caregivers. Such an approach emphasizes prevention and skill building. It involves the identification of a child's problem behaviors, the variables influencing the child's behavior, and the development of interventions to increase appropriate and decrease inappropriate behaviors.