Frequently Asked Questions
While every child’s situation is unique, there are certain questions our team answers most often.
At Family First we treat the underlying issues that are driving the symptoms and behaviors that have manifested into the mental health concerns listed below:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- C-PTSD
- Substance Use
- ADHD/ADD
- Problematic Gaming
- Family Systems
- Dual Diagnosis
Our program is owned, operated, and designed by clinicians who have both had extensive experience in the treatment industry as well as their own experiences in adolescent treatment. Family First was created to be the most clinically sophisticated and compassionate programming in the country.
Our treatment approach includes:
- A highly trained staff
- Neuropsychological testing and treatment
- 40 hours of trauma-informed care programming per week
- More access to individualized therapy than anywhere in the country
- Immersive family programming to ensure a comprehensive treatment experience that is unmatched in the industry
Suggested Packing List:
- Currently Prescribed Medications
- 7-10 T-Shirts
- 4-5 Pairs of Shorts
- 1-2 Pairs of Pants
- 1-2 Pairs of Lounge/Sweatpants
- Athletic wear
- Swimsuit
- Underwear
- Socks
- Tennis Shoes
- Sandals and or Flip Flops
- Casual footwear
- Light Rain Jacket (If you have one)
- Non-Alcoholic Toiletries
- Gov Issued Photo
- Headphones
Not Permitted:
- Tobacco and tobacco related products
- Cash, Debit/Credit cards
- Gaming systems, Tablets, or Personal Computers
- Devices with internet access
- Mobile phone
- Caffeinated Products
- Protein powders/supplements of any kind
The Family First admissions team is composed of experienced and compassionate professionals that are ready to support you in finding the right kind of support for you and your family. Our admissions specialists are available seven days per week and will ensure a smooth and comforting experience from the very beginning.
Yes. A large majority of our fees are covered by insurance. Learn more about which services are covered and which plans are accepted. Our admissions team is well versed in all formats of coverage and available to you for any/all questions. Please don’t hesitate to contact us at (561) 328-7370 any time.
Communication is frequent and ongoing. Family First is dedicated to consistent and intentional contact with you multiple times per week. Contact us for a breakdown of each different type of contact you will receive during your son’s time in treatment.
Our immersive family programming includes weekly family therapy, twice weekly parent focus groups, and the creation of an individualized family treatment plan designed by parents in collaboration with the treatment team.
See our Program Impact page for stats and insights from families who have experienced the program.
Outside of the structured clinical treatment schedule, the weekends at Family First are geared toward supporting healthy fun. To help rewire dopamine neuropathways in the brain, our clients engage in a variety of different structured activities each day, including deep sea fishing, go-kart racing, trips to the beach, surfing, wakeboarding, paintballing, trampoline parks, and kayaking. These activities are all supervised by staff in safe and familiar environments that we have utilized for years and are oriented toward allowing kids to be kids.
Family First offers food that is specially prepared and catered by a local chef, which provides flexibility to meet the various dietary needs for the boys during their treatment stay. Contact us for a sample meal plan.
With a 3-to-1 staff to client ratio, clients are engaged in a highly structured schedule that includes a robust clinical program, incorporating academics in a classroom, and exposure to clinician-led experiential therapy on the water and in a state-of-the art CrossFit facility. Contact us for a sample daily schedule.
At Family First, there is a large focus on developing proper hygiene habits as a critical component of self-care. We support our clients to take care of themselves, learn how to do certain household chores, and take particular interest in developing morning and evening hygiene routines that can be sustainable in their everyday lives.
Teenage boys can be impressionable, but what we have seen is that they tend to mirror the adult mentors and therapists at Family First more than their peers as they develop meaningful relationships with the team. Providing consistent positive adult interactions, group therapy, conflict resolution circles, and Non-Violent Communication training are some of the many ways we support our clients to learn how to build each other up rather than take each other down.
45 to 90 days.
After completion of treatment at Family First, teens and their families will be equipped with a comprehensive aftercare plan that outlines the various services that they will engage in based on clinical recommendations. In addition, all graduates of the program are immediately enrolled in our alumni program when they leave. The alumni program consists of weekly case management calls, twice weekly support meetings for parents, twice weekly meetings for the boys, and engagement with the rest of our community through the Family First App.
Utilizing a trained interventionist can be very helpful in effectively communicating the need for treatment to your son and safely transporting them. If you are interested in receiving recommendations for reputable interventionists from around the country, please contact our admissions team at (561) 328-7370.
Our education team has worked with hundreds of students coming from public, private, and charter schools around the country, coordinating academic plans and facilitating the completion of course objectives. With the right kind of support, we have seen numerous students catch up after falling behind, stay on track with their current progress, and even get ahead of the curve while in treatment at Family First.
All clients go through a psychiatric evaluation at the beginning of treatment. If your son is currently on medications, our psychiatric team will continue to prescribe and manage those medications and only recommend a change if they deem it necessary. At Family First, we do not add or change medications without parental consent.
What kinds of disorders do you treat?
At Family First we treat the underlying issues that are driving the symptoms and behaviors that have manifested into the mental health concerns listed below: Anxiety Depression C-PTSD Substance Use ADHD/ADD Problematic Gaming Family Systems Dual Diagnosis
What is different about Family First than other residential programs for my son?
Our program is owned, operated, and designed by clinicians who have both had extensive experience in the treatment industry as well as their own experiences in adolescent treatment. Family First was created to be the most clinically sophisticated and compassionate programming in the country. Our treatment approach includes: A highly trained staff Neuropsychological testing and treatment 40 hours of trauma-informed care programming per week More access to individualized therapy than anywhere in the country Immersive family programming to ensure a comprehensive treatment experience that is unmatched in the industry
What should I pack for my son?
Suggested Packing List: Currently Prescribed Medications 7-10 T-Shirts 4-5 Pairs of Shorts 1-2 Pairs of Pants 1-2 Pairs of Lounge/Sweatpants Athletic wear Swimsuit Underwear Socks Tennis Shoes Sandals and or Flip Flops Casual footwear Light Rain Jacket (If you have one) Non-Alcoholic Toiletries Gov Issued Photo Headphones Not Permitted: Tobacco and tobacco related products Cash, Debit/Credit cards Gaming systems, Tablets, or Personal Computers Devices with internet access Mobile phone Caffeinated Products Protein powders/supplements of any kind
What is the admissions process?
The Family First admissions team is composed of experienced and compassionate professionals that are ready to support you in finding the right kind of support for you and your family. Our admissions specialists are available seven days per week and will ensure a smooth and comforting experience from the very beginning.
Does Family First accept insurance?
Yes. A large majority of our fees are covered by insurance. Learn more about which services are covered and which plans are accepted. Our admissions team is well versed in all formats of coverage and available to you for any/all questions. Please don’t hesitate to contact us at (561) 328-7370 any time.
What does communication with Family First staff look like while my son is in treatment?
Communication is frequent and ongoing. Family First is dedicated to consistent and intentional contact with you multiple times per week. Contact us for a breakdown of each different type of contact you will receive during your son’s time in treatment.
How does Family First involve parents and families in the treatment process?
Our immersive family programming includes weekly family therapy, twice weekly parent focus groups, and the creation of an individualized family treatment plan designed by parents in collaboration with the treatment team.
What are your success rates?
See our Program Impact page for stats and insights from families who have experienced the program.
What does programming look like on the weekends?
Outside of the structured clinical treatment schedule, the weekends at Family First are geared toward supporting healthy fun. To help rewire dopamine neuropathways in the brain, our clients engage in a variety of different structured activities each day, including deep sea fishing, go-kart racing, trips to the beach, surfing, wakeboarding, paintballing, trampoline parks, and kayaking. These activities are all supervised by staff in safe and familiar environments that we have utilized for years and are oriented toward allowing kids to be kids.
What will my son eat while he is at Family First?
Family First offers food that is specially prepared and catered by a local chef, which provides flexibility to meet the various dietary needs for the boys during their treatment stay. Contact us for a sample meal plan.
What is a typical day like at Family First?
With a 3-to-1 staff to client ratio, clients are engaged in a highly structured schedule that includes a robust clinical program, incorporating academics in a classroom, and exposure to clinician-led experiential therapy on the water and in a state-of-the art CrossFit facility. Contact us for a sample daily schedule.
How do you help my son with his hygiene while he is there?
At Family First, there is a large focus on developing proper hygiene habits as a critical component of self-care. We support our clients to take care of themselves, learn how to do certain household chores, and take particular interest in developing morning and evening hygiene routines that can be sustainable in their everyday lives.
Will my son pick up bad habits from other boys?
Teenage boys can be impressionable, but what we have seen is that they tend to mirror the adult mentors and therapists at Family First more than their peers as they develop meaningful relationships with the team. Providing consistent positive adult interactions, group therapy, conflict resolution circles, and Non-Violent Communication training are some of the many ways we support our clients to learn how to build each other up rather than take each other down.
What is the average length of stay?
45 to 90 days.
What follow-up do you do after treatment?
After completion of treatment at Family First, teens and their families will be equipped with a comprehensive aftercare plan that outlines the various services that they will engage in based on clinical recommendations. In addition, all graduates of the program are immediately enrolled in our alumni program when they leave. The alumni program consists of weekly case management calls, twice weekly support meetings for parents, twice weekly meetings for the boys, and engagement with the rest of our community through the Family First App.
Should we utilize an interventionist to get my son to Family First?
Utilizing a trained interventionist can be very helpful in effectively communicating the need for treatment to your son and safely transporting them. If you are interested in receiving recommendations for reputable interventionists from around the country, please contact our admissions team at (561) 328-7370.
What about schoolwork? Will my son fall behind in school if he goes to Family First?
Our education team has worked with hundreds of students coming from public, private, and charter schools around the country, coordinating academic plans and facilitating the completion of course objectives. With the right kind of support, we have seen numerous students catch up after falling behind, stay on track with their current progress, and even get ahead of the curve while in treatment at Family First.
Will my son be put on medication at Family First?
All clients go through a psychiatric evaluation at the beginning of treatment. If your son is currently on medications, our psychiatric team will continue to prescribe and manage those medications and only recommend a change if they deem it necessary. At Family First, we do not add or change medications without parental consent.
Still have a question?
If you are an individual or a family member seeking more information about our programs, we encourage you to contact us directly to speak with a trained, caring, professional who is ready to offer you support.
