Two functional family therapists with Bay Area Youth Services described the agency’s Functional Family Therapy (FFT) program and how local referrals can access it.

Presenters identified themselves only by first name as program therapists with Bay Area Youth Services. They said FFT is a short‑term, high‑quality intervention averaging 12–14 sessions over three to five months and is best suited to youth ages 10–18 referred by juvenile justice, schools, child‑welfare or mental‑health professionals. "FFT works best for youth aged 10 to 18, who have been referred for behavior or emotional problems," one presenter said.

FFT is primarily delivered in the home but can be provided in office or community settings. Therapists said the model is strength‑based and consists of five components: engagement, motivation, relational assessment, behavior change and generalization. They listed common parent‑side risk factors the model targets: inconsistent parenting, parental substance use, parental mood or anxiety disorders, parental high conflict and external system pressures.

On referrals and capacity, therapists said referrals are accepted from schools, agencies and families via an online referral tab and email. Each FFT therapist in Hillsborough carries a typical caseload of about 12 families because FFT is short‑term. One presenter said, "once we're full staff, the longest [the wait list] can be, it's probably a month." They added FFT offers booster sessions and allows families to re‑enter within 60 days if difficulties recur after discharge. FFT staff said they screen for clinical exclusion criteria, such as acute psychosis or scheduled out‑of‑home placements.

The presenters said FFT is a nationally recognized model and that local program staff meet regular fidelity reviews with national consultants; they also provide beginning and end assessments to measure family change and report outcomes to referral parties.

Ending: program brochures and referral contact information were left with the advisory board; therapists asked stakeholders to use the listed referral email or the online referral tab for inquiries.