ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of best practices for treating and preventing emotional and behavioral problems in children through the lens of the Family Check-Up. The Family Check-Up (FCU) is an evidence-based intervention model designed to prevent problem behavior in children that incorporates many best practices, among them: use of video-based feedback, careful assessment of child and family functioning, attention to the therapeutic relationship, and inclusion of experiential practice. A description of the three key steps of the FCU includes the Initial Interview, the Ecological Assessment, and the Feedback Session. These three sessions create a structure and process to enable caregivers to reflect on their child and family wellbeing in ways that motivate behavior change and follow-up treatment sessions focused on improving caregiving skills. The FCU targets children’s early behavioral and emotional symptoms that predict later problem behavior by addressing parenting issues, the broader ecology of the family system, using a strength-based focus. The FCU is applicable across the developmental span of childhood and can be adapted for a range of presenting problems, from disruptive behavior to depression to obesity. Additionally, the FCU is highly tailorable and has been integrated within multiple service delivery platforms including pediatrics, community clinics, social service agencies, and schools.
