During the First North American Treatment Foster Care conference a brochure was handed out explaining their goals. " To recognize Treatment Foster Care as a vital segment to the social service delivery system. Building on the ideas generated by the Foster Family Treatment Conference held in November of 1985 we hope to provide an area in which Treatment Foster Care Professionals can learn from, debate with and challenge one another." These goals never seemed outlandish and went on to become a reality for Dr. Jim Breiling. Dr. Brieling then devised a list of potential goals for this organization. He believed that the TFC organization needed to create a legal entity to keep professionals and families in check; that the TFC should meet at an annual conference to discuss policy issues, funds, and new presentations to make people aware of advancements in the field and give people the knowledge of current research that may help to improve their Therapeutic Foster Care. Brieling also wanted to produce a periodic newsletter to report on association activities, provide summaries on important policies and treatment developments. This newsletter is delivered to all those involved in the TFC program. Dr. Breiling also wanted to form a Public Policy Committee to monitor all federal and state actions in regard to Treatment Foster Care and lastly, to form a Research Committee to gather data from TFC families on the children served, the duration of their service, their treatment parent personality, cost information, and progress. The Research Committee would monitor the writings and studies to make sure that new policies, treatments and goals become summarized and free of medical and scientific jargon for TFC families. .
Treatment goals for the youth are to reduce criminal behavior and substance abuse, improve school attendance and grades, and reduce association with delinquent peers and to improve the ability for these adolescents to live in a successful family surrounding.
