FY25: HFY1: The annual target for youth/young adults demonstrating a clear reduction in behavioral health symptoms at discharge is 65%.  During HFY1, 37% or 3 of 8 youth/young adults demonstrated a clear reduction in behavioral health symptoms at discharge.  Clients 61, 62 and 68 were able to demonstrate a clear reduction in mental health symptoms at discharge, and were the 3 clients to complete the full course of the program successfully. Clients 69, 71, 73, 76 and 79 did not demonstrate a clear reduction in behavioral health symptoms at discharge. Clients 71, 73, 76 and 79 all had low engagement throughout treatment resulting in an inability to establish treatment goals, mental health baselines, and treatment implementation.  Due to the low engagement and disconnection from services before ultimately needing to discharge due to lack of sessions and communication, it was not able to be assessed if these clients had any reductions in behavioral health symptoms at the time of discharge. Client 69 had been initially engaged during treatment, however, became unstably housed during treatment. This then contributed to lack of access to medications, increased access to peers who were using substances leading to increased substance use and an increase in mental health symptoms. During treatment, the therapist was able to get the client aligned with getting an emergency psychiatric evaluation due to increasing symptoms, substance use and lack of medications, however, once discharged, the client was released back into the same unstable situation and symptoms continued. Before discharge, the therapist was trying to work on getting the client into a substance use program as well as connected to an ACT team, however, the client ultimately decided to end services and did not consent to any referrals being made on her behalf.   HFY2: The annual target for youth/young adults demonstrating a clear reduction in behavioral health symptoms at discharge is 65%.  During HFY2, 7 of 11 or 63.6% of youth/young adults demonstrated a clear reduction in behavioral health symptoms at discharge.  Clients 70, 74, 75, 81, 84, 85 and 94 were able to demonstrate a clear reduction in mental health symptoms at discharge. Clients 77, 88, 89 and 91 did not demonstrate a clear reduction in behavioral health symptoms at discharge. Client 77 stopped engaging in treatment after the probation case was closed and the client began to take part in an educational program. Due to the low engagement, while it could be inferred that the client was making progress due to no new charges and enrollment and attendance of a certification classes, it could not be confirmed with the client, social network or through observations if there was a clear reduction in behavioral health symptoms. Client 88 and 89 had low engagement throughout the majority of treatment with treatment goals not able to be established and mental health baselines and interventions not able to be assessed and implemented. Due to the low engagement and disconnection from services before ultimately needing to discharge due to lack of sessions and communication, it was not able to be assessed if these clients had any reductions in behavioral health symptoms at the time of discharge. Client 91 was discharged very shortly after services initiated due to administrative reasons, as identified above, and therefore, treatment goals were not able to be established and interventions not able to be implemented and therefore, there was not a clear reduction in behavioral health symptoms. 

Annual:   FY25 annual target for youth/young adults demonstrating a clear reduction in behavioral health symptoms at discharge is 65%.  During FY25, 10 of 19 or 52.6% of youth/young adults demonstrated a clear reduction in behavioral health symptoms at discharge.  

• MD Department of Juvenile Services
• Baltimore County Detention Center
• Baltimore County Court System
• Baltimore County Office of the Public Defender
• Baltimore County Department of Social Services
• Community Solutions, Inc.

 MST-EA is a manualized treatment that is an adaptation of the evidence-based treatment, Multi-Systemic Therapy (MST). MST-EA treatment targets are achieved by changing how clients function in their natural settings (home, school, community), leveraging the client’s strengths, pulling in positive supports, and developing the client’s skills and resources to overcome barriers to success.  Evidence-based interventions (e.g., cognitive behavioral therapy, behavioral interventions, motivational interviewing, affective education) are used to address treatment needs.