Newport Family Route

The Family Route Service is participating in the 1st UK trial of Multidimensional Family Therapy, MDFT, to support positive outcomes for young people aged 13-17.

MDFT provides a high level of family support over 4-6 months. We support both the young person and their family or wider support system to overcome challenges in life.

The service can support with
- Preventing family breakdown
- Family reunification
- Young people missing from home or at risk of exploitation
- Young people at risk of school exclusion
- Reduced substance or alcohol misuse
- Reduced anti-social behaviour.
- Young people supported by youth justice

MDFT was developed in the United States, and more information is available at https://www.mdft.org/what-is-mdft

The therapy is typically delivered over a period of four to six months and involves individual sessions for the young person and their parent/carer, as well as family therapy sessions.
The service will also support the young person in developing new opportunities in the community and to be better understood at school and within their support networks.
The service can support young people who aren’t living with their family including young people in care and in supported housing.

A referral form is required to access the service and available on a tab on this page.

Young people will need to consent to entering the clinical trial being led by the University of Kent. The university of Kent is looking at the impact of MDFT on substance use so it is a requirement that young people have used a substance (including alcohol on 4 occasions in the last month) If young people are leaving a youth justice or health facility, please discuss this with the team.

For more information on the clinical trial and the randomised study, please visit https://research.kent.ac.uk/multidimensional-family-therapy/