Multi-Systemic Therapy for Emerging Adults (Baltimore County FY18 and beyond) (Annual)

Better Off: % of youth/young adults with no new legal charges in the last 2 months of treatment before discharge for offenses committed during that time (Annual)

Current Value

95%

FY 2025

Definition

Line

Bar

Story Behind the Curve

FY25: HFY1: The annual target for youth/young adults receiving no new legal charges is 75%. During HFY1, 87% or 7 of 8 youth/young adults received no new legal charges before discharge. Clients 61, 62, 68, 69, 71, 73 and 79 received no new legal charges in the last 2 months of treatment. Client 76 was not fully engaged throughout treatment despite multiple efforts to engage the client. The client entered treatment struggling with compliance with probation and obeying curfew, despite GPS monitoring. The DJS worker was supportive throughout treatment with trying to engage the client, with very little success. The client eventually removed the GPS monitoring device, went AWOL, and was ultimately arrested after picking up new adult charges unrelated to the prior charges. HYF2: The annual target for youth/young adults receiving no new legal charges is 75%. During HFY2 11 of 11 or 100% of youth/young adults recevied no new legal charges in the last 2 months of treatment of before discharge. Annual: FY25 the annual target for youth/young adults receving no new legal charges is 75%. During FY25, 18of 19 or 94.7% of youth/young adults recieved no new legal charges in the last 2 months of treatment before discharge.

Partners

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.

What Works

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.

Action Plan

Data Discussion

Data Discussion (Annual FY):

The annual target percentage for youth/young adults with no new legal charges within 2 months of program discharge is 75%. A total of 100% or 8 of 8 youth/young adults received no new legal charges in the last 2 months of treatment before discharge during FY22.

*MST EA Reasons for Non-Completion of Treatment

Moved from Baltimore County
Lack of Engagement
Placed in detention for event prior to MST EA involvement
Placed in detention for event occurring at the very beginning of MST EA involvement

Definitions:

Legal Charges: EA has not received legal charges in the last 2 months of treatment as measured by official arrest/charge 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.

Measurement Tool Used

Research Agenda

Clear Impact Suite is an easy-to-use, web-based software platform that helps your staff collaborate with external stakeholders and community partners by utilizing the combination of data collection, performance reporting, and program planning.