Juvenile Multisystemic Therapy

Paper Summary:

The paper explores the intensive family and home-based treatment program called multisystemic therapy (MST), which targets aspects in the youth's social network that are contributing to his antisocial behavior. The paper examines the research that suggests that MST is a promising approach to the treatment of serious antisocial behavior in youths. The paper notes that youths who have successfully gone through the program could be contributors and mentors for other troubled youth.

From the Paper:

"Treating serious and violent juvenile offenders continues to be a major issue countrywide, particularly due to the significant social and economic costs required by these offenders. Such juvenile offenders have a much higher risk for mental and physical health problems, substance abuse, low educational and occupational attainment, and social difficulties. Traditional mental health and juvenile justice services have not had much success in reducing these youths' serious problems. As a result, researchers have looked for other ways to help chronic juvenile offenders. One of the most recent evidence-based approaches, which has shown positive results, is an intensive family- and home-based treatment program called multisystemic therapy (MST)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Borduin, C. M., Mann, B. J., Cone, L. T., Henggeler, S. W., Fucci, B. R., Blaske, D. M., and Williams, R. A. (1995). Multisystemic treatment of serious juvenile offenders: Long-term prevention of criminality and violence. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 63, 569-578.
• Brownson, Ross C., Elizabeth A. Baker, Terry L. Leet, and Kathleen N. Gillespie, Editors (2003). Evidence-Based Public Health. New York: Oxford University Press
• Henggeler, S. W., Melton, G. B., and Smith, L. A. (1992). Family preservation using multisystemic therapy: An effective alternative to incarcerating serious juvenile offenders. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 60, 821-833.
• Henggeler, S. W., Melton, G. B., Smith, L. A., Schoenwald, S. K., and Hanley, J. H. (1993). Family preservation using multisystemic treatment: Long-term follow-up to a clinical trial with serious juvenile offenders. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 2, 283-293.
• MST. Summary Report. Retrieved on February 13, 2008. http://www.mstservices.com/executive_summary.php

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