NCJ Number
238130
Date Published
April 2011
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This study examined the characteristics and outcomes for youth enrolled in Washington State's Thurston-Mason Children's Mental Health Evidence-Based Practice Pilot Project, a multi-systemic therapy intervention program.
Abstract
The major finding from the study indicates that at the 1-year follow-up period, youth enrolled in multi-systemic therapy (MST) intervention programs were convicted of fewer crimes on average than youth with similar criminal histories and demographic characteristics not enrolled in MST. Of the youth referred to the pilot MST program, 60 percent were male with an average age of 14 years and 13 percent were under age 12; 83 percent were White, 9 percent were Hispanic, and 5 percent were Native American; 68 percent were convicted of a felony or misdemeanor in the prior year compared to 17 percent of all youth involved in the public mental health system; a majority used inpatient and other mental health services and were more likely to be diagnosed with behavioral disorders; and were more likely to have a history of out-of-home placements in foster care or group homes. This study examined the characteristics and outcomes for youth enrolled in Washington State's pilot MST program. MST is an intensive family and community-based treatment program for youth that focuses on home, family, school, neighborhood, and peers. Data for the study were obtained from analysis of administrative data on 215 youth enrolled in the program between April 2007 and June 2010. The analysis measured outcomes associated with the youths' enrollment in the program that included criminal convictions and mental health service utilization at a 1-year follow-up period. The analysis found that youth enrolled in the program had fewer convictions for crimes after they left the program, thereby leading to a reduction in taxpayer and crime victim costs. These findings are consistent with other research on the effectiveness of MST intervention programs. Exhibits