We were not able to recruit families

The purpose of the study is to examine the effects of Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care compared to treatment as usual (TAU) for adolescents in Denmark in need of out-of-home placement.

It is difficult to treat adolescents with serious behaviour problems. Although the number of adolescents displaying serious behaviour problems is limited, they are a serious concern to the society e.g. because of their frequent violent behaviour, criminal activities and lack of school adherence.

Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care (MTFC)is a community-based treatment program developed in USA. The goal of the MTFC program is to decrease problem behaviour and to increase developmentally appropriate normative and prosocial behavior in adolescents who are in need of out-of-home placement.

This study will evaluate the effect of MTFC on adolescents in out-of-home placement.

Participants will be recruited by caseworkers in the municipalities and randomly assigned to either MTFC or TAU. TAU will consist of other kinds of out-of-home placements. Outcomes will be assessed for all participants at baseline, post-treatment (12 months), and 12 months post-treatment. Parents and youth will be asked to fill out questionnaires on e.g. behaviour, parental stress, sense of cohesion, general health.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 12-17 years old
• In need of out of home placement
• serious behaviour problems

Exclusion Criteria:

• severe psychiatric illness in youth or parent
• risk of suicide in youth
• acute psychosis in youth
• sexual offence by youth
• severe substance abuse in youth or parent