Capacity building on Functional Family Therapy model

Dozens of human behavior professionals, including social workers, psychologists, counselors, and students of these disciplines, met recently during a professional conference to learn first-hand the foundations of a family therapy model that is being implemented soon in Puerto Rico.

The educational event was sponsored by Grupo Nexos and the Family and Children’s Administration (ADFAN) of the Puerto Rico Department of the Family. Therapist Thomas L. Sexton, developer of functional family therapy, explained the intervention, how it works with all family members, and how to adjust it to the Puerto Rican reality. Dr. Sexton is a recognized expert in family-centered interventions, having developed multiple family therapy programs for the justice, mental health, and child welfare systems.

Functional family therapy is an integral part of the reform of the welfare system for families and minors that is being implemented in Puerto Rico in compliance with the federal law known as the Family First Prevention Services Act.

“We can play a fundamental role in helping others and families fulfill their role so they can build a better future. “We can transform how we serve people,” said Dr. Sexton. “With functional family therapy, we seek to understand the dynamics of the entire family to go from solving an individual problem to dealing with a shared problem. It is a family-centered model based on the premise that families know themselves best. “It is up to social workers and psychologists to help them modify behaviors.”

The meeting is part of the efforts promoted by Grupo Nexos as a scientific partner of ADFAN to help professionals in human behavior and related areas learn about the methods and processes required by the new legislation that regulates intervention processes with families and children. “This opportunity represents an important component of the efforts we are making to strengthen the capabilities and readiness of our personnel and the family prevention and preservation system in Puerto Rico,” said Glenda Gerena, who directs the Department of the Family Children and Families Administration (ADFAN).

Transforming the family welfare system, following federal law, requires offering trauma-informed and evidence-based preventive programs and services focused on keeping children with their families whenever possible and safe.

“Wellbeing is a human right, and our legal framework seeks to protect children. It is challenging but inspiring, and I want us to remember that boys and girls have the right to develop to their full potential. It is not enough to make efforts to protect them; it is also to give them tools to develop,” explained Dr. Marizaida Sánchez Cesáreo, executive president of Grupo Nexos.

According to the conference speakers, work is underway to implement functional family therapy interventions in programs with a prevention component in the Department of the Family and the Youth Institutions System of Puerto Rico.