In school and/or employed is defined as youth/young adult is attending school, a high school equivalency degree (GED) program, a vocational program, or is working at least part-time at client discharge as measured by school and/or work attendance records and client self-report.

• 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.
• Prologue, 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.

A total of 80% or 4 of 5 youth/young adults were actively enrolled in school and/or employed when beginning MST EA and actively enrolled in school and/or employed at program discharge during FY22.

Definitions:

In school and/or employed:  EA is attending school, a high school equivalency degree (GED) program, a vocational program, or is working at least part-time at client discharge as measured by school and/or work attendance records and client self-report.

Client Discharge: 

Discharge Criteria

The determination to discharge an EA from MST-EA is based upon evidence of intervention effectiveness as evaluated from multiple perspectives (e.g. EA, social network members, school, probation officer) indicating that:

• a majority of the Overarching Goals for the case have been met and sustained;
• the EA has few significant behavioral health and justice-related problems;
• the EA can effectively manage any recurring problems and functions reasonably well for at least 3 to 4 weeks;
• the EA is making reasonable educational/vocational efforts;
• the EA is involved with prosocial peers and is not involved with, or is minimally involved with problem peers; and
• the therapist and supervisor feel the EA has the knowledge, skills, resources, and support needed to handle subsequent problems.

Discharge from MST-EA may also occur when few of the Overarching Goals have been met, but despite consistent and repeated efforts by the therapist and supervisor to overcome the barriers to further success, the treatment has reached a point of diminishing returns for the additional time invested.