Intensive Systemic Therapy Around the Child (ISTAC) is a pioneering, community-based treatment programme that prevents children and young people with complex emotional and behavioural difficulties being placed in out-of-home placements, and/or transitions them home to their families following out-of-home care (in foster care, custody or inpatient settings). ISTAC provides treatment directly to families, children and young people, and the wider professional networks involved to affect long-term, sustainable change and help families reach their potential, together.    

ISTAC was devised by the clinical team behind Youth Untroubled, who have extensive experience of delivering multi-systemic therapy®, family therapy, CBT, behavioural therapy, trauma-informed therapy, and other clinical approaches to assessing and addressing childhood behaviour and complex family issues. The model has been commissioned by several local authorities and mental health trusts across London, the south of England and the midlands, and nationally by F-CAMHS.