Arrow Child & Family Ministries is expanding its Family-Centered Treatment (FCT) program into Baltimore City, building on years of service in Baltimore and Harford counties.
“We want to ensure that families in Baltimore City have access to the same prevention services as the families we serve in Baltimore and Harford Counties,” Arrow Associate Vice President of Administration Robert Basler said.
This expansion is made possible through a long-standing partnership and contract with the Department of Juvenile Services. Both Arrow and DJS are committed to increasing access to community-based services that divert youth from further involvement in the juvenile justice system while strengthening families through in-home support and therapeutic care.
FCT is a home-based treatment model that supports families that struggle with both external and internal stressors, offering practical, evidence-based solutions when children are at risk of being removed from their homes.
“Family-Centered Treatment is an intensive, short-term approach, working with families for four hours of treatment a week for six months,” Basler said. “A foundational belief of FCT is that those we serve are good people with tremendous internal strengths.”
Since the program’s birth in 2023, 63 families have completed the program with Arrow.
Of those families:
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80% have been able to stay in their home, instead of being placed in a foster home or residential placement.
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89% of families said the service created more safety in their family.
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84% say Family-Centered Treatment has improved their family life.
Arrow began serving youth in the juvenile justice system in 2024 and has shown similar results with this population.
“When families have children with significant behavioral needs, the youth often end up in psychiatric hospitals, residential treatment programs, juvenile detention or foster care,” Basler said. “Our program gives families support and tools to successfully parent their children, creating safe and happy families.”
Ultimately, this expansion allows Arrow to prevent more youth from entering out of home care.