This live virtual training will take place July 15, 17, 22, and 24 from 12:00pm-4:00pm EDT with Ashley Fiore, MSW, LCSW. This will be an interactive and participatory training experience with pre-work and action period assignments that build participants’ skills at implementing AF-CBT. This training has been approved for 14 CEs through NASW and NBCC.

Attendees should have an active caseload appropriate for AF-CBT and be ready to apply the model. Supervisors are welcome to attend training. If supervisors are not carrying their own active AF-CBT cases, we will work with them to meet the training requirements.
Alternatives for Families: A Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (AF-CBT; www.afcbt.org), is an intervention to improve family relationships for those experiencing high conflict/coercion, harsh/punitive discipline, child physical abuse, and/or child behavior problems.

Alternatives for Families: A Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (AF-CBT) is a trauma-informed, evidence-based intervention designed to improve the relationship between children and their caregivers by addressing individual and family problems relating to: 
     • Family conflicts   
     • Behavior problems, including physical aggression
     • Anger and verbal aggression, including emotional abuse
     • Harsh physical discipline, physical aggression, or child physical abuse, or
     • Child trauma-related symptoms secondary to any of the above

These patterns may be shown by an individual caregiver or a child/adolescent, and/or by the family.   Therefore, AF-CBT targets the caregiver, child/adolescent, and the larger family context. 

AF-CBT involves three phases of treatment:
     1) Engagement and Psychoeducation, 2) Individual skills building, 3) Family applications.

Who is Appropriate for AF-CBT?
AF-CBT is appropriate for a broad range of families. The following general criteria have been developed to facilitate the identification of families who may benefit from this intervention.

BACKGROUND CRITERIA
     • A child, age 5-17, can participate now or soon
     • A caregiver (e.g., biological, adoptive, foster, or kin) can participate now or soon
     • Both caregiver and child have an adequate capacity or repertoire to learn/benefit from AF-CBT
CLINICAL CRITERIA
     • The Family has frequent conflict(s) and/or arguments OR
     • A Caregiver shows anger (hostility), uses physical force/discipline (coercion), and/or has allegation/history of child physical abuse OR
     • A Child shows anger, has behavior problems (e.g., defiance, aggression, explosiveness), has trauma symptoms/PTSD after physical discipline/abuse, and/or has prior exposure to harsh discipline/physical abuse
A case is eligible if ALL 3 Background Criteria and 1 Clinical Criterion are met.

Objectives:

1. Describe the intervention model and its content to families in a manner that engages and motivates treatment participation.

2. Implement specific techniques to decrease parent and child aggression, family conflict, and child PTSD symptoms related to physical violence (e.g., complete no-force agree-ment, safety planning, imaginal exposure).

3. Initiate discussions about abusive/aggressive experiences with children and caregivers and follow up with social skills training, social support planning, positive family commu-nication, problem-solving routines, and child behavior management training.

Providers
Prospective AF-CBT trainees must be mental health professionals with a Master's degree or higher. Trainees are asked to commit to implementing AF-CBT with at least 2 families during the course of the training year so they should have an active caseload ready to apply the model. 
AF-CBT should be conducted by individuals who have been formally trained in the model and who are familiar with the content, methods, assessments, and fidelity tools that are required to ensure effective implementation.

Data Collection: This training is offered at a greatly reduced cost. Participants are required to submit monthly data on clients served. More information will be provided.

Pre-Requisite:
There is a free 2.5 hour pre-requisite video course, “Foundations of AF-CBT” which must be completed prior to training. You may access this here  https://learn.nctsn.org/enrol/... 

CE’s are provided for the pre-requisite course through NCTSN.org. Please send your certificate documenting completion to Jami Bolton, jbolon@nca-online.org

There is a cap of 50 attendees for this training. You must be paid in full to count toward the participation cap. It is strongly recommended you pay with credit card to ensure your spot is secure. If you plan to pay by check, you must email leadershipconference@nca-online.org to let us know you are sending a check. The check must be received by July 12, 2025. 

If registration is full, this means that our capacity has been met. Please email leadershipconference@nca-online.org and we will add you to the waiting list. 

The cost for the training is $450 and includes 4 training days, 12 consultation calls, and the AF-CBT Session Guide, Third Edition, Revised. A Spanish language session guide is available upon request.  You may use NCA grant funds for this training. Your spot will not be reserved until payment is received. If you are paying by check, please mail ASAP to ensure your spot. 

To pay by check, select "check" under payment method during check out. After checking out, please save your invoice or email confirmation. 

Mail your check and invoice, payable to National Children's Alliance, to:

National Children's Alliance P.O. Box 71477 Washington, DC 20024 

Your name and AF-CBT must be on the check memo or on a note with your check, otherwise it will not be approved. Do not mail checks to the former NCA office address, please use the PO Box listed above.