Family Empowerment Intervention

Abstract

This article presents a detailed overview of the Family Empowerment Intervention (FEI), a systems-oriented intervention delivered in-home by well-trained nontherapists. A clinical trial of the FEI, funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, targeted arrested youths and their families. The following topics are covered: the theoretical foundations of the FEI; the goals of the FEI; structural intervention strategies; the phases of the intervention; engaging and moving families through the FEI to graduation; the role, selection, and training of Field Consultants who deliver the intervention; efforts to ensure the integrity of intervention services; crisis intervention; and staff and family safety issues.

Key Words:

• Juvenile offender family intervention
• family empowerment intervention for high-risk youths
• family empowerment intervention conceptual foundations