What is it?
Multisystemic Therapy (MST) was developed by the Medical University of South Carolina's Family Services Research Center to provide mental health services to adolescents with delinquent behaviors and their families. The goal of MST is to decrease and prevent anti-social and delinquent behaviors while improving the family's overall functioning. MST is a blueprint model which provides intensive in-home therapy for children ages 12-17 who are exhibiting delinquent or predelinquent behaviors such as truancy, physical aggression, drug and alcohol use, or curfew violation.

How is it different?
MST uses only evidenced based treatments such as structural therapy and cognitive therapy to treat the family and the individual family members. The therapy involves contact with the multiple systems involved with the family including the home, school, community, and peers. Therapists and supervisors participate in weekly consultation with Adelphoi Village, an MST network partner, which provides extensive training and case consultation to the therapist.

Who qualifies?

• Youth is 12-17 years old (if not justification is needed).
• Youth resides in a family setting with a caregiver.
• Youth's caregiver is willing to participate.
• Youth has active Medical Assistance.
• Youth is exhibiting antisocial/delinquent/externalizing behaviors.
• Outpatient services are not sufficient to meet the family's need.