Functional Family Therapy

Integrating the use of Mobile devices such as Tablets and Cell Phones at Vision Quest Corporation

Managerial Applications of Information Technology
DeVry University, Keller Graduate School of Management
December 17, 2012

Table of Contents

Abstract 3

Company Background 3

Business Problems 4

High-Level Solution 5

Approach 6

Benefits to Solving the Problem 6

High-level Implementation Plan 8
Changes to Technology

Conclusion 9

Summary of Recommendations 9

References 11

Integrating the use of Mobile devices such as Tablets and Cell Phones at Vision Quest Corporation
Abstract
The business
problem to be solved is how Vision Quest Corporation can improve the company’s productivity and service quality to clients and referral sources, for the company’s Functional Family Therapy Team (FFT), by integrating the use of mobile devices such as tablets and cell phones for their mobile therapist.
Company Background Vision Quest is an employee-owned comprehensive national youth services organization that adheres to the highest professional standards in providing innovative intervention services to at-risk youth and families.
Vision Quest programs help troubled teens and their families to successfully find their way from confusion to a positive future. One of the many umbrellas under Vision Quest is its Functional Family Therapy (FFT) model. Functional Family Therapy (FFT) is an evidenced based intervention that works with at risk youths and their families in their homes. The problems range from disruptive behaviors and conduct disorders to substance and alcohol related disorders. FFT is a strength-based model. At its core is a focus and assessment of those risk and protective factors that impact the adolescent and his or her environment, with specific attention paid both intra-familial and extra-familial factors, and how they present within and influence the therapeutic process. In order to promote positive outcomes and deter problem behaviors, FFT focuses largely on the interpersonal relationships that exist within a family system. Many of the targeted interventions, therefore, emphasize communication skills, family interaction, problem-solving and promoting constructive behaviors. Although each phase is organized around a specific goal, it is the responsibility of the FFT therapist to alter the timing and techniques used according to the specific needs of each family. The first of
the aforementioned three phases emphasizes engagement and motivation. The primary focus of this phase is to encourage sustained program participation. It involves techniques such as reframing, pointing process, divert/interrupt and sequencing. Taken together, these techniques are intended to change the way in which family members view problem behaviors; point out how individual members experience family processes; divert and interrupt negativity; and understand who and how family members interact. The second phase concentrates on behavior change and includes techniques such as communication training and parenting training to help families function more effectively. The third and final phase, generalization, is intended to help families apply what they have learned through the program to broader contexts and to maintain those changes over time. Techniques in this final phase include relapse prevention and mobilizing community resources, and helping families to become self-reliant. FFT consists of one-hour sessions that typically occur over the course of three months. The direct service sessions can be conducted at home, at court or at a clinic.
FFT therapist completes most of their work from home or in the community. Progress notes are supposed to be updated after each session with the clients. Vision Quest Corporation have been slow in providing its FFT employees with mobile devices such as cell phones, laptops or tablets to complete work, thus decreasing the company’s productivity which could possibly lead to loss of funding for the program.

Business Problems
FFT is a nationally-recognized evidence-based model family therapy intervention for the treatment of violent, criminal, behavioral, school, and conduct problems with youth and their families. FFT has a manualized clinical model, built on an integrated theoretical foundation, and systematic research evidence to demonstrate its efficacy and effectiveness for reducing serious criminal behavior in youth. As a true family therapy, FFT targets the family relational system as the entry point and primary target for systematic and individualized treatment. FFT partners to provide the implementation of and quality assurance for FFT sites in almost 50 states, with numerous sites in Europe, and New Zealand. One of the partnerships of FFT is that with Vision Quest Corporation. Vision Quest implements FFT in Baltimore, MD and in Philadelphia, PA. Vision Quest’s Baltimore City FFT program is funded by Baltimore City Department of Juvenile Services (BCDJS). FFT’s contract with BCDJS states that FFT will service 60 clients and have a 85% success rate. The company’s productivity and quality of service to its clients and referral source is poor due to the company’s lack of use of mobile devices. The company is currently only servicing half of the clients and the success rate is below 85%. This could lead to the company’s loss of contract with BCDJS thus creating unemployment for its current employees.

High-level Solution
In order to effectively increase company’s productivity and quality of service to the clients as well as the referral source (BCDJS), I propose that Vision Quest’s FFT program integrate the use of mobile devices such as tablets, laptops and cell phones within the company. With integrating the use of mobile devices, Vision Quest will not only be able to increase productivity and quality of service to the clients, but will also be able to increase the safety of its employees. Due to FFT being a home based service in some intimidating areas, therapist should be giving cell phones for not only therapist/ client relationship, but also for protection and safety.

Approach

Determine if the use of cell phones, computers and/or tablets, will effectively improve the quality of service given to the clients and the referral sources of the FFT program, as well as ensure the safety of the therapist.
Through the use of corporate management, determine if mobile devices for each employee will fit in the company’s corporate budget. Once this is determined, the company would need to then need to investigate several different cell phone and/or computer companies to determine which company will provide the company with the best services at a great price. Once accomplished, the Vision Quest should select that company to provide cell phones and/or other mobile devices to the FFT team.
Benefits to Solving the Problem
There will be several benefits to Vision Quest’s FFT team using mobile devices to assist in the quality of everyday work. The use of a cell phone will allow therapist to be more assessable to clients and the referral source when needed. The therapist will be able to be on call to assist clients with crisis situations. The use of mobile phones will also create a sense of security for therapist when they are in the homes of clients because it will allow for the therapist to call supervisor or police if a crisis situation happens while therapist is in the home. The use of the an IPad or a mini laptop will assist therapist with getting notes done on time and also make it easier for therapist to complete notes in between sessions.
In an article written by Taylor (2012), Taylor discusses the advantages of mobile devices such as IPads and smart phones as a communication tool in clinical applications. Taylor (2012) states that mobile devices such as smart phones and iPads, and related software applications, known as ‘apps’, now provide such flexible access to therapy resources.
In an article by Byrne and Hartley (2010), the author’s discussed how digital recording technology can be integrated into traditional and distance clinical supervision.
There is limited information on how supervisors can use digital technology to broaden settings in which students record client interviews, enhance evaluation of students ' clinical performance, and increase accessibility for students with disabilities. The article addresses methods and issues in the use of emerging digital recording technologies, such as pocket size iPods, Flip Cameras, and smart phones. The use of digital technology has grown rapidly in the last few years, and technological innovations are changing both traditional and distance clinical supervision. The use of mobile devices for therapist has many great benefits, as discussed by Byrne and Hartley (2010). The technology is increasingly portable, enabling counselors to record high quality audio and video in multiple settings, including the client’s home and community, and allowing clients to have direct access to their counselor/ therapist. Rehabilitation counselors often meet with clients in the community and are expected to read and interpret contextual cues to evaluate client functioning. For instance, if numerous empty liquor bottles are in a setting where the counselor meets with the client, the counselor would consider the client’s alcohol use. Recording in the community thus has the benefit of capturing real-life settings, and
supervisors can evaluate whether the student considers environmental cues when assessing the client’s functioning (Byrne and Hartley 2010).

High-level Implementation Plan
In order for Vision Quest to successfully integrate the use of mobile devices such as Tablets and Cell Phones, it will need to consider the additional following details:
Changes to Technology (How to integrate mobile devices into the company_
As Vision Quest integrates mobile devices into their company polices, they will immediately see the benefits of this decision. To begin integrating the use of mobile devices Vision Quest should take the following into consideration:
• Assess the need for certain mobile devices
Assess the use for mobile devices in the company.
• Create an IT policy that defines the users and the applications required
Different people within the organization may require varying levels of access given their job scope. IT needs to define which employees need access to which apps and at what level.
• Secure your applications
The key to delivering corporate applications to a consumer device is to ensure their security. This can be achieved by managing the applications centrally, rather than installing them on each endpoint.
• Virtualize and deliver
Desktop and application virtualizations are the building blocks for agnostic, secure delivery of corporate applications to any device, including the iPad. Deploying a centrally managed desktop virtualization solution give IT greater control of the content delivered to portable devices.

Conclusion The goal of this proposal was to determine if Vision Quest should integrate mobile devices such and Ipads, tablets or laptops, and cell phones in to the daily functioning of its FFT team in order to increase the company’s productivity and quality of service to its clients and referral source (BCDJS). Another goal was to determine if by integrating these mobile devices, it would create a sense of safety for therapists who are in the homes of their clients. This proposal have established that the use of mobile devices have many great benefits for Vision Quest as a company as well as their employees. This proposal suggest that if Vision Quest decides to integrate the use of mobile devices the company’s productivity and quality of service to its clients will increase therefore, reducing the possibility of a loss of funding. Integrating to mobile devices will also provide therapist with a sense of safety while out in the communities servicing clients. In case of a crisis therapist will have access to a phone to alert the appropriate people. Therapist will also be able to call for assistance if needed. The tablet or Ipad will assist therapist with staying on top of their client progress notes, which would assist therapist with effectively completing notes on time thus increasing productivity.
Summary of Recommendations
• Vision Quest should assess the need of integrating mobile devices.
When assessing the need to integrate mobile devices, Vision Quest should take into consideration the company’s current low productivity and quality of service rate. Vision Quest should also take into consideration the level of security for its employees who are out in the homes of clients.
• Vision Quest should review the benefits of using mobile devices.
• Create an IT policy that defines the users and the applications required
• Establish policies and procedures around the use of mobile devices.
• Secure which applications will be used by each individual in the company.
• Finally integrate the use of mobile devices into the company’s FFT team.

References
Alexander, J. F., & Barton, C. (1980). Intervention with delinquents and their families: Clinical, methodological, and conceptual issues. In J. Vincent (Ed.), Advances in family intervention, assessment and theory. Greenwich, CT: JAI Press.
Barton, C., Alexander, J. F., Waldron, H., Turner, C. W., & Warburton, J. (1985). Generalizing treatment effects of Functional Family Therapy: Three replications. American Journal of Family Therapy, 13, 16-26.
Byrne, A., Hartley, M. (2010). Digital Technology in the 21st Century: Considerations for Clinical Supervision in Rehabilitation Education. Rehabilitation Education, 24(1), 57-68.
Klein, N. C., Alexander, J. F., & Parsons, B. V. (1977). Impact of family systems intervention on recidivism and sibling delinquency: A model of primary prevention and program evaluation. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 45, 469-474.
Taylor, Teri. (2012). Applying Mobile Learning to Rehabilitation. International Journal of Therapy & Rehabilitation, 19(5), 287-287.