The nine principles of MST ensure that the treatment gains continue

Since becoming involved with Multisystemic Therapy (MST) 13 years ago, I have probably been asked 1,000 times what MST is or what I do. It can be a complicated question to answer only because MST does so many things. We solve problems. We keep at-risk kids at home. We empower good people to be great parents. We make communities safer. We save taxpayer dollars. We champion juvenile-justice reform...honestly, I could go on. 

I am proud of my work and the collective work of MST teams across the globe. While there may have been a few parties or family gatherings at which it would have been nice to provide a shorter answer like “I teach third grade,” I’m glad I do what I do. But perhaps the part that makes me most proud is our treatment generalization.

The MST European Conference will be held in Malmö, Sweden in May

When they say that time flies by when you are having fun, they aren’t kidding. The older I get (and I say I am older than dirt), the quicker time seems to fly.

It is hard to believe that almost four years ago, 450 participants from the MST community came together for the 2014 MST European Conference in London. Delegates gathered from Iceland, Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, Denmark, Belgium and the United Kingdom to celebrate the strong implementation of MST across their communities. 

This aunt demonstrates the importance of using extended family for support 

Marianna* grew up in a large extended family. She learned early on commitment to family was a strength of her Hispanic culture. Her strong dedication to family and supporting one another, she would explain, is really part of who she is and how she was raised. Because of this, she didn’t think twice about taking in her nephew, Mateo. Raising him like he was one of her own. 

But when he turned 15, things began to change.

Happy New Year to all our families and colleagues around the world

Join with us as we close out 2017 by celebrating all the work Multisystemic Therapy has done to achieve proven results for families and communities. We look forward to 2018 and plan to continue our efforts to meet the needs of those we serve.

Take a moment to read what people and communities say about their experience with the program. For those who don’t have access to effective alternatives to placement, detention and out-of-home care, our resolution is to further our reach in 2018. Our goal is to leave no family or community behind.

Video captures efforts of MST therapists in Chile, highlights their good work

It is funny how the universe finds ways to answer the desires of the heart. Almost 20 years ago, I was a young missionary in the community of La Florida in Santiago, Chile. I came to love the Chilean people and was fortunate to have many close friendships with the Chilean women I met. They took care of me and made me part of their families. 

As a surrogate family member, I was privy to the many heartaches and trials these women faced in rearing their children. 

This report documents legislative victories as well as what is left to be done in keeping youth out of adult court

Twelve years ago, the Campaign for Youth Justice (CFYJ) set out to get young people removed from the adult justice system. In an effort to achieve that goal, since 2011, it has issued periodically a State Trends Report documenting legislative victories and what’s left to be done.

In that time, a lot has changed. Although, too much has stayed the same. The CFYJ laid out its findings in the recently released “Raising the Bar: State Trends in Keeping Youth Out of Adult Courts (2015-2017).”

Multisystemic therapists, funders and families from the UK explain how MST works in 5 minutes

If a picture is worth a 1,000 words, then a video is worth at least a million—maybe more.

If you are a parent, funder, therapist or community stakeholder, you don’t want to miss this video. 

Inspired from an unlikely place, one MST expert reflects on the value of kindness 

“You’re mean to each other.” That's what he said, and it shocked me. Maybe because it's true, and I didn't want to believe it. Or maybe I've been too ignorant to see it and just didn't want to believe it. Or maybe I was just embarrassed by the simple truth of it. Whatever it was, it caused me to think about those words for a long time. That’s definitely not the perception I want others to have.

Those were the words of a taxi driver as he drove me from the airport to my hotel upon my arrival in a foreign country.

She didn't think MST would work, but now this Scottish mum is grateful she gave MST a chance so her son could remain at home

Sean* was referred to Multisystemic Therapy (MST) Edinburgh by his social worker in July 2017. He was being reported missing to police as frequently as every day. He was using drugs, offending in the community and would often smash up property within the home. Sean’s mother, Ms. Spencer*, described the family as being in a “desperate situation.” She believed that having her son taken into Local Authority care was her only option. She said, “I couldn’t cope. My whole family was stressed, and it all became unbearable. I had to resign from my job as I was calling in sick continuously due to Sean’s behaviour. It was impossible to manage.” 

Georgia juvenile justice reform, led by Gov. Nathan Deal, wins award 

A year after taking office, Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal recognized that he had an opportunity, and a responsibility, to fix the state’s criminal justice system. A year later, in 2013, he expanded his focus to include the state’s juvenile justice system. Shortly thereafter, the Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) partnered with the Pew Foundation and the Annie E. Casey Foundation, among others, to explore ways to reduce the unnecessary, ineffective, and expensive overuse of out of home placement of youth who ran into trouble with the law as adolescents.

Much to CJCCs surprise, many of the juveniles placed out of home had committed misdemeanor or status offenses.