Multisystemic Therapy for Child Abuse and Neglect (MST-CAN) is an evidence-based (i.e., research supported) program for children ages 6-17 and their families, who come under the guidance of child protective services due to physical abuse and/or neglect. MST-CAN is currently available in 4 countries around the world. MST-CAN is administered to families in the home and at times convenient to the family. It is an intensive treatment involving a minimum of 3 sessions per week. All members of the family are involved in the treatment. Common treatment strategies include safety planning, Cognitive Behavioral Therapies for managing anger and addressing the impact of trauma, Reinforcement-Based Therapy for adult substance misuse, family therapy focused on communication and problem solving, and sessions to support the parent in taking responsibility for the events that brought the family to child protection. CLINICAL TEAM
All needed treatment is provided by a clinical team. The team consists of:
1 full-time supervisor
3 full-time therapists
1 full-time case manager
1 part-time psychiatrist
Each therapist is the clinical lead with 3-4 families. The team operates a crisis on-call system so that families can access clinical interventions outside regular hours. Importantly, the MST-CAN team works very carefully to work cooperatively and collaboratively with child protection on behalf of the family. TRAINING AND QUALITY ASSURANCE
MST-CAN follows a very rigorous training and quality assurance system to assure that the clinical team is following the model in the way it was conducted during the research trials. Doing so increases the likelihood that the family will achieve clinical outcomes. Training and QA processes include:
- 5 days of standard Multisystemic Therapy orientation training
- 4 days of MST-CAN training (including 2 days of training in treatment of adult substance misuse)
- 4 days of training on trauma treatment for adults and children
- Quarterly booster trainings for the team on important clinical topics
- Weekly case supervision
- Weekly case consultation wtih an MST-CAN expert
- Fully articulated treatment manual
- Monthly interviews with the family to assess therapist adherence to the model
- Measures of supervisor and consultant adherence to the model. BENEFITS SHOWN THROUGH RIGOROUS RESEARCH
Through a randomized effectiveness trial funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, MST-CAN was compared to enhanced outpatient therapy. The known benefits of MST-CAN include:
YOUTH
- Reductions in internalizing problems such as anxiety, dissociation, and post traumatic stress disorder symptoms
- Fewer out-of-home placements
- Fewer changes in placements for those who had to be placed
ADULTS
- Greater reductions in psychological distress
- Greater increases in natural social supports
- Greater treatment satisfaction
PARENTING
- More likely to use non-violent discipline
- Greater reductions in:
-Neglectful parenting
-Minor and severe assault of the child
-Psychological aggression
