Multisystemic Therapy (MST)
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program description
Multisystemic Therapy (MST) is a family-and-community-based treatment for youth with complex clinical, social, and educational problems (e.g., violence, drug abuse, school expulsion). The MST approach views individuals as being part of, and influenced by, a complex network of interconnected systems. In MST, this “ecology” of these systems is viewed as the “client”. To achieve successful outcomes with these youth, interventions are generally necessary within and among a combination of these systems.
A crucial aspect of MST is its emphasis on promoting behavior change in the youth’s natural environment. Initial family sessions identify the strengths and weaknesses of the adolescent, the family, and their transactions with extra familial systems (e.g., peers, friends, school, parental workplace). Identified problems throughout the family are explicitly targeted for change, and the strengths of each system are used to
facilitate such change. Although specific strengths and weaknesses can vary widely from family to family, several problem areas are typically identified for serious juvenile offenders and their families.
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services provided
Over a period of three to six months, MST is delivered in homes, neighborhoods, schools and communities by master’s level professionals with low case loads.
MST services are provided through a team approach with the intent to:
- Promote the family’s capacity to monitor and manage the youth’s behavior
- Involve all systems in the youth’s environment (family, friends, school, community)
- Provide 24 hours a day, seven days a week crisis assistance
- Offer structured face-to-face therapeutic counseling
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| eligibility
MST recipient must meet the following criteria:
- Be Medicaid eligible
- Be capable of participating in the therapy
- Be 11-17 years of age
- Have serious emotional and/or behavioral problems
- Be involved or at-risk to be involved with the juvenile justice system
- Be at risk of out-of-home placement or returning from out-of-home placement because one or more of the following:
- Anti-social behavior
- Aggressive and/or violent
- Substance abuse
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areas served
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