In 2021, direct care staff turnover in our agency was close to 35%. We are a treatment foster family agency and residential therapeutic program for youth and families impacted by the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. In a field where stability and consistency of healthy relationships is vital to the success of our clients, this was a crisis.

Koinonia implemented a low-cost, evidence-based, trauma-informed, relationship-focused, transferable, and sustainable. model across all levels of the agency, using the four main components of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) of Mindfulness, Emotion Regulation, Distress Tolerance and Relationship Effectiveness.

The aim of this project was to:

1. reduce staff turnover rates,
2. reduce caregiver attrition rates
3. increase positive. Youth discharge outcomes.