Multisystemic Therapy (MST) Child and Family Guidance Center Outreach & Delinquency Services

What is MST? An intensive family and community-based treatment program that serves serious juvenile offenders and their families. Uses a systemic approach, addressing multiple factors known to be related to delinquency within the family, peer, school neighborhood, other support systems. Uses the strengths of each system to promote behavior change.

The Ultimate Goals of MST To empower parents and caregivers with the skills and resources needed to independently address the difficulties their children are having. To empower youth to cope with family, peer, school, and neighborhood problems without engaging in delinquent behaviors or substance abuse. To assist families in improving their overall communication and functioning.

How is MST Different? Evidence-based: MST is a well-validated treatment model (Kazdin & Weisz, 1998). Studies with violent and chronic juvenile offenders showed that MST reduced long-term rates of re-arrest by 25% to 70% in comparison with control groups. Short Term: MST treatment lasts between 3 and 6 months. Community-based: Treatment is provided in home and community settings. Intensive: MST therapists have multiple face-to-face and telephone contacts each week. MST therapists are available to families 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

MST Interventions MST interventions typically aim to: Improve caregiver monitoring and discipline practices. Enhance family relationships and overall functioning. Decrease the youth’s association with negative peers. Increase the youth’s association with prosocial peers. Improve the youth’s school and/or vocational performance. Engage the youth in prosocial activties. Develop an indigenous support network of extended family, neighbors, and friends to help caregivers achieve and maintain changes.

MST Referral Criteria An adolescent between the ages of 12 and 17 years of age. Classified as WIC 602 or 790 (felony) status minor. Attends an MST designated school site. Exhibits negative and externalizing behaviors that may include: poor school performance, poor peer relationships, truancy, substance abuse, runaway from home, firesetting, disobedience, stealing, aggression, and other antisocial behaviors. At risk of recidivism or placement in a more restrictive living situation.

Types of MST Services and Interventions Individual and family therapy Substance abuse counseling Case management and referrals Advocacy Assistance with a child or family member’s problems at home, school, or in the community Crisis Intervention Parenting Training and education

MST School Sites Chatsworth High School Cleveland High School Mid Valley CEC Mission Continuation Monroe High School Polytechnic High School Reseda High School San Fernando High School San Fernando Middle School Sepulveda Middle School Sun Valley Middle School

MST Program Staff Jennifer Maldonado, LCSW, MST Supervisor Jamie Bunch-Sanfilippo, MA, MST Therapist Juan Macias, MSW, MST Therapist Nate Lloyd, MS, MST Therapist

Program Data CFGC’s MST program was first implemented in October 2001, as part of a pilot program collaboration with the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health and Department of Probation. MST is funded through the Board of Corrections with the use of Schiff-Cardenas and STOP funds. Total number of cases served in MST since October 2001. Data is still being collected on the overall success rate of families in MST; however preliminary data indicates that youth discharged from MST have lowered re-arrest rates and improved school and vocational functioning. For example, the percentage of youth with no re-arrests is 91.43% and the percentage of youth in school and/or working is 68.57%.

Program Specifics Current staffing includes one MST-trained supervisor and 3 full-time MST therapists. Therapists carry a caseload of 4-6 families at a time. Services are provided in English and Spanish. Therapists and supervisor are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In addition to having multiple contacts with families, therapists collaborate on a regular basis with probation officers, school staff, and prosocial activity providers. The MST team meets for weekly telephone conferences with a consultant from MST Services, Inc., based in Charleston, SC. Therapists’ adherence to the MST model is evaluated by monthly questionnaires that are completed via phone with families. Supervisors are evaluated by therapists on a quarterly basis. The MST team attends quarterly MST “booster” trainings with the MST consultant.