Welcome

In this issue

• Hurricane Katrina's Effect on the MST Community
• Message from the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence
• Announcements from MST Services and MST Institute
• News Briefs from Family Services Research Center at MUSC
• New Publications and Resources
• MST Community Updates and Announcements

---

Hurricane Katrina's Effect on the MST Community

The whole world witnessed the recent tragedies caused by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. However, in the midst of tragedy, we can be proud of our MST therapists and their continued dedication to the families they serve. Although many of them faced strenuous circumstances of their own, they continued to provide support to their MST families in any way possible.

Christine Bonura, MST system supervisor for Jefferson Parish (JPHSA), provided the following brief illustrations to show how the MST therapists worked hard to stay in touch with their families despite dealing with enormous personal challenges and changes of their own.

Sara Hart, an MST therapist in Jefferson Parish writes, "During the evacuation for Hurricane Katrina, it was not possible for me to see my MST clients. In order to maintain contact with them and continue offering support a lot of work had to be done over the phone and even this was sometimes difficult since many phone lines were out of service." Sara, as well as other therapists, tried all methods of communication, including text messaging, helping to assure the families that their support was still in place.

Therapist Emile Foster set up a monitoring and supervision plan for one child and his family through regular telephone contact. He was able to get weekly updates on medication management and other treatment issues. And more importantly, Emile received no negative reports regarding the youth's behavior or compliance.

In some cases, therapists in this region were pleasantly surprised by their families' determination to stay in touch as well during this crisis. In most situations, these families were forced to implement MST interventions into new, unfamiliar environments and therefore relied on their therapist for much needed support.

During her evacuation from Hurricane Rita, therapist Catina Batisle received an urgent phone call from one of her families. The family had moved to Atlanta due to Hurricane Katrina. This mother informed Catina that her son had not returned home from the night before. Catina helped the mother remember what had been taught to her, asking her such things as who his new friends were and what was the last phone number her child used. Once her son was located, she was able to help the mother develop appropriate rewards and consequences. An example of how MST continues to work even when therapist and family are forced miles apart!

Thanks to the hard work and dedication of both the therapists and families, the JPHSA team has continued to provide support for MST families despite the devastation caused by both hurricanes. We are grateful to our therapists for sharing their stories and inspiring us all to keep going no matter what the circumstance and to always do whatever it takes.

---

Message from the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence

Evidence-Based Programs: Research-to-Practice Conference
Join us in Denver for our inaugural 2006 Blueprints Conference. The conference will offer three days of valuable information and discussion, including keynote addresses and breakout sessions that will explore model programs with positive results for troubled youth and their families.

With your choice of 32 topics offered in four scheduled breakout sessions, the Blueprints Conference promises to provide coverage of the latest treatment models as well as plenty of networking opportunities.

The goal of the conference is to disseminate scientific information on effective youth violence, delinquency, and drug prevention programs. Our hope is the conference will motivate the prevention field to adopt evidence-based programs, and provide support, guidance, and tools by program experts to help practitioners implement these programs successfully in their own communities. Participants include community prevention advocates, department heads of agencies responsible for violence and drug prevention efforts, state and local government leaders responsible for prevention funding and initiatives, leaders of the criminal justice systems, and program implementers.

The conference will also provide pre-conferences for five of the Blueprints model programs. The 1-1/2 day general conference will disseminate information on at least 20 evidence-based programs and provide workshops designed to improve planning strategies, enhance implementation, and ensure program sustainability.

I hope to see you at the 2006 Blueprints Conference as we share in the mission to help youth and their families.

Sincerely,

Delbert S. Elliott, PhD
Executive Director
Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence
University of Colorado at Boulder

---

Announcements from MST Services and MST Institute

• MST Services would like to welcome Liberty Resources as its newest Network Partner organization.
  
  Liberty Resources is headquartered in Syracuse, New York and one of central New York's most diversified and trusted human service agencies. Founded in 1978 to develop community-based services in Madison County, New York, Liberty Resources continues to expand its geographic reach and scope of services. Providing residential and non-residential services to individuals and families, our present array of services include mental health; mental retardation and developmental disabilities; services for individuals living with HIV/AIDS, families and youth involved in the child welfare system, domestic violence services; services to persons in recovery; and diversified case management services. To learn more about Liberty Resources, visit their Web site at www.liberty-resources.org.
  
  
• Richard Aucoin, PhD has been promoted to manager of network partnerships.
  
  Richard joined MST Services in August 2003. He received his undergraduate training from the University of Southwestern Louisiana and in 1986 he obtained his master's degree in counseling psychology. In 1993 Richard completed his post-doctoral degree at the University of Southern Mississippi. His work experience includes being a United States Air Force psychologist; a director for a mental health center; a psychologist on a child and adolescent psychiatric unit; a pediatric psychologist; and assessment/treatment of incarcerated adult sexual offenders.
  
  
• Naamith Heiblum, PhD, has been promoted to manager of network partnerships for its operations in New Zealand.
  
  In this role, Naamith will assist the New Zealand Network Partnership to effectively implement the MST treatment model. Her responsibilities will include the training and support of MST system supervisors, program developers and project directors, as well as oversight of all training, clinical consultation, system/organizational consulting and quality assurance activities.
  
  Naamith joined MST in 2001 as clinical director where she provided leadership to MST teams in New Zealand in effectively implementing MST. She received her doctoral degree in psychology from the University of Missouri-Columbia and is a member of the American Psychological Association.
  
  
• Robin Susser, PhD has joined MST Services as a MST consultant.
  
  Robin has been an administrator in residential treatment facilities and community health care agencies for more than 20 years. In addition, she has been a clinician for child/adolescent and adult populations. Her specialty has been the creation of freestanding programs for children and families and the treatment of addictions. Her research on: "the influence of viewing television programming on the resolution of moral dilemma questions by the pre-adolescent", was recognized as evidence-based and contributed to the current movie and television rating system, including the V-chip. In 1993 she was appointed to the Committee on Children in West Virginia. This work led to the creation of the Family Preservation Project in West Virginia. Robin is a diplomate with the American Psychotherapy Association and a member of the American Psychological Association (APA). During her down time, she enjoys spending time with her family in both the New York/New Jersey area, as well as Charlotte, North Carolina.
  
  
• Josh Chinitz, PhD has joined MST Services as a MST consultant.
  
  Josh received his undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Michigan and his graduate degree in clinical and community psychology from the University of Maryland. Prior to joining MST Services, in October 2005, he was the training director and coordinator of psychological services at a residential and day treatment center/school for children and adolescents. His research and clinical interests include marital and family therapy. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family, playing basketball, jogging, and cheering on the University of Michigan football team.

---

News Briefs from Family Services Research Center at MUSC

• FSRC is sponsoring a family affected by Hurricane Katrina. Originally from Slidell, Louisiana, the family will move to Charleston, South Carolina this fall. The family includes a mother and father, a 14-year-old son, a 2-year-old daughter, and their grandparents. This family has lost everything and will be starting over.
  
  
• In the spirit of MST, FSRC is asking the greater MST community to consider a donation to help with the family's immediate and basic needs, as well as integration into their new community. All donations are tax-deductible.
  
  
• The Gethsemani Circle of Friends, a nonprofit organization established as a result of Dr. Cindy Swenson's Neighborhood Solutions project, has agreed to be the nonprofit fiscal agent for this relief fund. To make an online contribution, visit www.djoledancecompany.org, click on the "Donate Now" button and make sure to designate "FSRC Katrina Family" in the designation field on the form.

---

New Publications

The following MST-related publications are available:

261 Schaeffer, C. M., & Borduin, C. M. (in press). Long-term follow-up to a randomized clinical trial of multisystemic therapy with serious and violent juvenile offenders. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology.

263 Swenson, C.C., Henggeler, S.W., (2005). Die multisytemische Therapie: Ein ökologisches Modell zur Behandlung schwerer Verhaltensstörungen bei Jugendlichen. Familien-dynamik 2 (30), 128-144

264 Ogden, T., & Hagen, K.A. (In press). Multisystemic therapy of serious behavior problems in youth: Sustainability of therapy effectiveness two years after intake. Journal for Child and Adolescent Mental Health

265 Cunningham, P. B., & Foster, S. L. (2005). Operationalizing cultural competence: One programmatic effort. Child and Family Policy and Practice Review, 1(1), 12-15

266 Weisz, J.R., Weersing, V.R., Henggeler, S.W., (2005). Jousting with straw men: Comment on Westen, Novonty and Thompson-Brenner (2004). Psychological Bulletin 131, 418-426

267 Ellis, D.A., Frey, M.A., Naar-King, S., Templin, T., Cunningham, P.B., Cakan, N. (in press). The effects of multisystemic therapy on diabetes stress in adolescents with chronically poorly controlled type II diabetes: Findings from a randomized controlled trial. Pediatrics

268 Ellis, D.A., Frey, M.A., Naar-King, S., Templin, T., Cunningham, P.B., Cakan, N. (2005). Use of multisystemic therapy to improve regimen adherence among adolescents with Type 1 diabetes in chronic poor metabolic control: A randomized controlled trial. Diabetes Care. Vol. 28, 1604 - 1610

269 Letourneau, E. J., Prescott, D.S. (2005). Ethical issues in sexual offender assessments. In S.W. Cooper, R.J. Estes, A.P. Giardino, N.D. Kellogg, & V.I. Vieth (Eds.), Medical, Legal, & Social Science Aspects of Child Sexual Exploitation: A Comprehensive Review of Pornography, Prostitution, and Internet Crimes (pp. 277-296). G.W. Medical Publishing, Inc.: St Louis, MO

270 Henggeler, S.W., Halliday-Boykins, C.A., Cunningham, P.B., Randall, J., Shapiro, S.B., Chapman, J.E., (In press). Juvenile drug court: enhancing outcomes by integrating evidence-based treatments. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology

Request a copy of a publication

---

MST Community Updates & Announcements

Adelphoi Village receives Community-Based Service Award
The York County MST Program of Adelphoi Village received the Community-Based Service of the Year Award for their outstanding "Whatever It Takes" attitude in delivering their MST services to kids. This award is unique because in previous years only county-run programs have received the award making Adelphoi Village the first private agency to receive the honor. Congratulations to Adelphoi Village!

New MST Teams

Su Vida	NM	1
CHINS-Up	CO	1
Lancaster	SC	1
Franklin County	OH	1
Armstrong / Green Counties	PA	1
Brisbane CAN Pilot project	AUS	1
Baltimore City	MD	1
Perth	AUS	2
Alexander Youth Network	NC	1
Hempfield Associates	PA	1
Youth Villages	DC	1
Clark & Cayahoga Counties	OH	2

Has someone recently joined your team or been promoted? If so, share your news with the MST community. Send your news to intheloop@mstservices.com.