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Multisystemic Therapy (MST) is a unique, goal-oriented, comprehensive treatment program
designed to serve multi-problem youth in their community. MST is one of the few family-focused
and community-based treatment programs that has:
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been the focus of twenty years of empirical studies, and |
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demonstrated clinical- and cost- effectiveness for youth with complex emotional,
social, behavioral and academic needs. |
MST was developed in the Family Services Research Center at the Medical University
of South Carolina, and uses only treatment strategies that are supported by research.
MST is proven effective in helping youth (ages 12-17) with chronic, delinquent behavior
and youth with serious emotional problems, including:
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truancy and academic problems |
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serious disrespect and disobedience |
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aggressive behavior (fighting and property destruction) |
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criminal behavior |
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drug and alcohol problems |
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running away |
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priority given to youth who are at imminent risk of out-of-home-placement |
Research studies of youth who break the law repeatedly and/or abuse illegal substances
are clear. The causes of juvenile offending are difficulties in the following areas:
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family relations |
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school performance |
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peer relations |
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neighborhood and community relations |
MST interventions focus on key aspects of these areas in each youth's life. All interventions
are designed in full collaboration with family members and key figures in each area
of the child's life - parents or legal guardians, school teachers and principals,
etc.
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a complete functional assessment of youth in the context of their family, school,
and community |
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seeks to understand the “fit” between the child's problems and the factors which
contribute to them |
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focuses on helping parents build supportive social networks |
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empowers parents to address the needs of the youth and more effectively emphasizes
long-term change that families can maintain after the program |
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MST Therapists are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week |
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services are provided in the home, school, neighborhood and community |
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case loads of therapists are small (4-6 families per therapist) and treatment is
intensive, often including multiple contacts with family and other participants every
week |
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length of treatment averages 4-6 months |
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therapists are fully trained in MST |
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therapists work in teams and provide coverage for each other's case loads |
Each team has a supervisor and an expert consultant from Adelphoi, USA in Latrobe,
PA and Multisystemic Services, Inc. in Charleston, SC who consult weekly on all cases.
Any combination of the following services could be provided to the youth and her/
his family, as needed, within the MST program:
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family therapy |
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coordinating activities with school systems, court, and/or other social service agencies |
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evaluation of the youth's peer network and arranging alternative activities |
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chemical dependency assessment and treatment |
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individual sessions with parent |
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consultation with schools |
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arranging a psychiatric consultation as needed |
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marital therapy |
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individual sessions with youth when indicated by MST assessment |
CGRC provides MST services in communities in a variety of counties. Our therapists
are diverse in age, gender, and cultural background and are thoroughly trained and
supported in the MST model. |
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