District of Columbia

Case Study

 
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Evidence-Based Change in D.C.’s Family Services

Since 2009, EBA has partnered with DC to implement evidence-based programs for at-risk youth. Through the Families First Project (2011–present), EBA supports Community Service Agencies (CSAs) with training and implementation of EBPs, offering family-focused, in-home alternatives to foster care and helping families build skills to stay together.

Problem

High Rates of Out-of-Home Placement & Limited Access to Proven Interventions

Before 2009, the District of Columbia faced significant challenges in serving at-risk youth and families. Many children were being removed from their homes due to behavioral and emotional issues, and community-based providers lacked access to effective, evidence-based interventions. Service fragmentation and inconsistent implementation practices further weakened outcomes across the city’s youth-serving systems.

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Solution

Launch of the Families First Project & Systematic Implementation of Evidence-Based Practices

To address these challenges, EBA partnered with the D.C. Department of Behavioral Health in 2009 and formally launched the Families First Project in 2011. The initiative aimed to:

  • Train and support Community Service Agencies (CSAs) in delivering seven nationally recognized EBPs, including Multisystemic Therapy, Functional Family Therapy, and Trauma-Focused CBT.
  • Coordinate comprehensive implementation support, including referral systems, fidelity monitoring, and workforce development.
  • Provide ongoing coaching and consultation to therapists to build capacity and ensure high-quality care delivery.

EBA also helped develop infrastructure for screening, placement, and continuous quality improvement, ensuring the right youth received the right intervention at the right time.

Outcome

Stronger Families, Reduced Placements, and Sustained EBP Delivery Network

The Families First initiative resulted in measurable improvements across multiple dimensions:

  • Home-Based Alternatives Expanded: Dozens of therapists were trained to deliver family-centered, in-home care, reducing reliance on foster care placements.
  • Increased EBP Access: Hundreds of families gained access to specialized services like PCIT, CPP-FV, and MST.
  • Sustained Systems Change: A citywide infrastructure now supports ongoing training, fidelity assurance, and service coordination—strengthening long-term outcomes for youth.

Stakeholder feedback has consistently highlighted EBA’s professionalism, dedication to evidence-based care, and impact on D.C.’s behavioral health system.

115 +
Years of combined experience
20 +
Evidence-based models supported
30 +
States and counties served

Solutions EBA Provided

Needs Assessment & Program Alignment

Identify ideal evidence-based programs and determine when and where they are most needed across the District to meet community needs effectively.

Implementation & Provider Support

Provide direct support to community-based agencies to help them successfully adopt and deliver evidence-based practices, including coaching and guidance throughout implementation.

Workforce & Provider Oversight

Monitor compliance with the EBP Hiring Manual and assist agencies in creating policies that support effective staff recruitment, training, and long-term retention.

Training & Capacity Coordination

Identify certified training partners and coordinate session schedules to ensure staff receive timely, relevant training while maintaining adequate service coverage.

Utilization & Referral Management

Manage referral processes to ensure appropriate, timely access to services, aligning client needs with the most suitable evidence-based programs.

Quality, Evaluation & Stakeholder Engagement

Collaborate with partners to track fidelity and outcomes, use dashboards and monitoring tools to evaluate performance, and keep stakeholders informed to guide ongoing improvements and sustain success.

Georgia

Georgia's Juvenile Justice Incentive Grant Program has invested over $30 million in evidence-based programs to reduce out-of-home placements statewide.

Read Case Study

Testimonials regarding EBA's work in the District of Columbia

EBA has a passion for evidence-based approaches, and I've learned so much working with them. They do so much of the work in contracting and legwork, so that the trainer can focus on the roll out of the treatment model.

Reesa Donnelly, Psy.D.

President / PCIT Global Trainer
Dr. Reesa Donnelly, Inc.

I have had the pleasure of working with EBA since 2013 to support efforts to bring evidence-based trauma treatments to families in the District. The EBA team is passionate about assuring that children are getting the best care. They collaborate with trainers and developers to deliver high quality training and build the supports necessary to create a network of care for families in D.C.

Kay Connors, MSW, LCSW-C

Program Director / CPP Instructor
Department of Psychiatry
University of Maryland School of Medicine

Maryland Family Resource has enjoyed working with EBA and have derived countless benefits from our partnership. They have consistently been very helpful, supportive, organized, and extremely professional in their interactions. Not only have they been integral in the promotion and sustainability of evidence-based practices, but they have also been very compassionate about ensuring timely access to appropriate pathways to recovery, resilience, and other positive outcomes for our consumers and families in the District.

Beth Lee Crawford, Psy.D.

Chief Executive Officer / Clinical Director
Maryland Family Resource, Inc.

Additional D.C. Information

Models currently in use in the Families First project in the District of Columbia.

EBA supports the delivery of several rigorously tested treatment models for children, youth, and families in Washington, D.C.:

  • Child Parent Psychotherapy (CPP-FV): For young children (ages 0–6) exposed to trauma or violence; strengthens caregiver-child relationships. Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT): Designed for children (ages 2–6) with severe behavioral issues; improves parenting techniques through real-time coaching.
  • Functional Family Therapy (FFT): Serves at-risk youth and their families by improving family dynamics and reducing delinquency.
  • Multisystemic Therapy (MST): Aimed at youth with serious antisocial behavior; works across home, school, and community systems.
  • Transition to Independence Process (TIP): Supports youth and young adults (ages 14–29) with emotional/behavioral needs in achieving independence.
  • Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT): Helps children and adolescents recover from trauma using structured cognitive-behavioral techniques.
  • Trauma Systems Therapy (TST): Integrates clinical services with environmental interventions to treat traumatic stress and emotional regulation challenges.
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Links and Downloads

Guidelines and Practices Manual March 2025 Dashboard
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Project Team Members

Otis Buckson

Project Director, Families First Program
 obuckson@ebanetwork.com

Nathan McCoy

Program Manager, Families First Program
 nmccoy@ebanetwork.com

Holly Duggan

Director of Special Projects
 hduggan@ebanetwork.com

Click here to see our full team
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Looking for more real-world implementation examples?

View more of our success stories.