Building Capacity in Military-Connected Schools

Multisystemic Therapy (MST)

http://www.colorado.edu/cspv/blueprints/modelprograms.html
http://www.mstservices.com/
http://nrepp.samhsa.gov

Goals: To address the multiple factors in an adolescents live that lead to serious antisocial behavior in juvenile offenders. This means to not only work with the adolescents but to work with their families and communities in order to address the larger problems that lead to this sort of behavior.

Target Outcomes: To create behavioral changes in the juvenile offender and their environment.

Populations: Adolescents from age 12 to 17 who are chronic, violent or substance abusing juvenile offenders, they also should be at a high risk of out-of-home placements. The program also involves parents, community members, case workers and therapists.

Problem: This program is designed to address the issues of serious adolescent behavioral problems, such as drug use, violence and criminal activity.

Intervention:

• Home based model of delivery
• parents are given the skills to be able to deal with their kids issues at home
• developmentally appropriate demands are put on kid and family by case workers
• family therapy and strategic planning with a therapist
• 60 hours of therapy over a period of 4 months, or catered to the needs and availability of the family.

Resources: $4,500 per youth, which is considerably less than any other program dealing with serious juvenile offenders.

Results:

• Reduction of 20 to70% in rate of re-arrests
• Reduction of 47 to 64% in out of home placements
• Extensive improvements in family functioning
• Decreased mental health problems for serious juvenile offenders