ACH Child and Family Services (ACH), a nonprofit with more than 110 years of service, is now offering intensive family reunification services aimed at transitioning children in the foster system back into the care of their biological parents, kinship caregivers, or fictive kin after out-of-home placements.
In collaboration with Our Community Our Kids (OCOK), ACH is introducing Intercept®, an evidence-based program developed by the national nonprofit Youth Villages. This intensive in-home support will launch in Tarrant County and will be available to families and children ages 0–18. This is the first implementation of the Intercept program in Texas.
“ACH believes that, whenever it’s safe, children should be with their family,” said Stacey Ladd, Program Manager at ACH. “Intercept is a proven effective, research-informed practice that provides a whole-family approach to building trust and wellbeing among children, parents, caregivers, and siblings.”
The Intercept program addresses behavioral, emotional, and environmental challenges that disrupt family stability. ACH specialists offer 24/7 support and create customized treatment plans tailored to each child and family’s unique needs. Services include:
- Parenting and communication skills development
- School interventions and peer group building
- Therapeutic guidance and long-term community support
- Help accessing local resources
“This initiative reflects Youth Villages’ mission to improve outcomes for children and youth involved in child welfare, juvenile justice, and mental health systems nationwide,” said Youth Villages CEO Patrick Lawler. “This is our first partnership in Texas, and we are proud to support families in this region.”
OCOK, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services contractor responsible for Community-Based Care in Region 3W, was awarded a two-year grant from Youth Villages to help launch Intercept in Tarrant and surrounding counties. ACH was selected to implement the program.
Since 2006, Intercept has served more than 40,000 children and families across 21 states. Evaluations by the Center for State Child Welfare Data at Chapin Hall found that Intercept participation significantly reduces a child’s risk of entering foster care while increasing the likelihood of achieving permanency.
For more information visit ACHservices.org/Intercept. Learn more about Youth Villages and Intercept here.
Source: press release
