HOMEBUILDERS Intensive Family Preservation Services (IFPS)
34004 16th Ave South, Suite 200, Federal Way, WA 98003-8903
About
HOMEBUILDERS Intensive Family Preservation Services (IFPS) provides intensive, in-home crisis intervention, counseling, and life-skills education for families. The program includes crisis intervention, skill building, parenting skills, active listening, strength-based parenting, behavioral health support, and skill-building programs for children, youth, and families. Families are served in their own homes.
• Ages: 0–17 years old
• Schedule: Families receive about 40 hours of therapy over 4–6 weeks
HOMEBUILDERS Intensive Family Preservation Services (IFPS) serves families with children from birth to 17 years old who have at least one child at imminent risk of out-of-home placement. Families are referred by caseworkers in the child welfare, juvenile justice, or mental health system, and most families are referred by the child welfare system, with others referred by local courts and mental health systems. Therapists meet with families at times that are convenient for them and at times when problems are likely to occur, and services are provided on a flexible schedule and tailored to match the family. Therapists are available to families on a 24/7 basis for crisis intervention and support, and the program uses small caseloads, program intensity, and 24-hour a day service availability to support child safety. The program helps youth remain in the community while correcting problems that contribute to delinquency, and helps clients find the right school setting, attend classes regularly, adhere to curfews, comply with the court, participate in constructive activities with peers, and learn to manage anger and conflict without getting into trouble. The program involves the family in the child's treatment to avoid the trauma and stigma of psychiatric hospitalization or residential treatment.
HOMEBUILDERS Intensive Family Preservation Services (IFPS) is the oldest and best-documented Intensive Family Preservation Services (IFPS) program in the United States. The evidence-based HOMEBUILDERS model has been replicated across the country and internationally, and the Institute for Family Development (IFD) provides ongoing quality assurance, training, and consultation to agencies replicating HOMEBUILDERS. IFD offers a range of home-based parent education and family counseling programs throughout Washington State and has satellite offices in Bremerton, Everett, Olympia, Spokane, Vancouver, and Yakima. The Institute for Family Development is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Established in 1974 in Washington State, the organization states that its mission is to keep children safe and families together. IFD has influenced national and international child welfare, juvenile justice, and child mental health policy and practice.
Parents in the program have shared that “Without HOMEBUILDERS, we would not be together,” and that a therapist “had a hands-on approach” and “walked us through everyday stuff.” One parent reported, “I broke the cycle of violence in my family. If it worked with my family it could work with others, because we were the worst of the worst.” Another parent stated, “The help we have gotten literally saved our family. My son is now home with me and we have a wonderful relationship.”
Last updated February 28, 2026.
• Ages: 0–17 years old
• Schedule: Families receive about 40 hours of therapy over 4–6 weeks
HOMEBUILDERS Intensive Family Preservation Services (IFPS) serves families with children from birth to 17 years old who have at least one child at imminent risk of out-of-home placement. Families are referred by caseworkers in the child welfare, juvenile justice, or mental health system, and most families are referred by the child welfare system, with others referred by local courts and mental health systems. Therapists meet with families at times that are convenient for them and at times when problems are likely to occur, and services are provided on a flexible schedule and tailored to match the family. Therapists are available to families on a 24/7 basis for crisis intervention and support, and the program uses small caseloads, program intensity, and 24-hour a day service availability to support child safety. The program helps youth remain in the community while correcting problems that contribute to delinquency, and helps clients find the right school setting, attend classes regularly, adhere to curfews, comply with the court, participate in constructive activities with peers, and learn to manage anger and conflict without getting into trouble. The program involves the family in the child's treatment to avoid the trauma and stigma of psychiatric hospitalization or residential treatment.
HOMEBUILDERS Intensive Family Preservation Services (IFPS) is the oldest and best-documented Intensive Family Preservation Services (IFPS) program in the United States. The evidence-based HOMEBUILDERS model has been replicated across the country and internationally, and the Institute for Family Development (IFD) provides ongoing quality assurance, training, and consultation to agencies replicating HOMEBUILDERS. IFD offers a range of home-based parent education and family counseling programs throughout Washington State and has satellite offices in Bremerton, Everett, Olympia, Spokane, Vancouver, and Yakima. The Institute for Family Development is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Established in 1974 in Washington State, the organization states that its mission is to keep children safe and families together. IFD has influenced national and international child welfare, juvenile justice, and child mental health policy and practice.
Parents in the program have shared that “Without HOMEBUILDERS, we would not be together,” and that a therapist “had a hands-on approach” and “walked us through everyday stuff.” One parent reported, “I broke the cycle of violence in my family. If it worked with my family it could work with others, because we were the worst of the worst.” Another parent stated, “The help we have gotten literally saved our family. My son is now home with me and we have a wonderful relationship.”
Last updated February 28, 2026.
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