Welcome to the Fall 2007 Issue of "In the Loop"

In this issue

• Featured Story: SAMSHA recognizes two MST Providers with 2007 Science and Service Awards
• Featured Report: Pathways to Juvenile Detention Reform
• Announcements from MST Services and MST Institute
• Network Partner Spotlight: Denmark MST
• News Briefs from Family Services Research Center at MUSC
• New MST-related Publications
• MST Community Updates and Announcements

SAMSHA recognizes two MST Providers with 2007 Science and Service Awards

As part of its mission of building resilience and facilitating recovery, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has advanced a Science and Service Initiative to facilitate knowledge dissemination, promote the rapid implementation of effective, evidence-based mental health and substance abuse interventions into routine clinical and community-based practice, and strengthen feedback from the field to influence and frame services research programs.

As part of the initiative, SAMHSA has created the Science and Service Awards as a way of recognizing community-based organizations and/or coalitions that successfully have implemented one or more recognized evidence-based interventions to benefit consumers and/or communities. SAMHSA plans to pilot test this award process by bestowing these awards annually over the next three years.

MST programs secured 50 percent (two of four) of the awards in the treatment of mental illness and recovery support services category. Congratulations to the following MST providers for their commendable work in implementing MST.

Community Solutions Inc. received an award for implementing MST in the state of Georgia.

Hempfield Behavioral Health Inc. received an award for implementing MST in the state of Pennsylvania.

A total of four review panels convened and reviewed the applicants based on community need, sustainability, implementation and results. Each review panel consisted of seven national experts in the category, and included representatives from key national organizations.

More information on these awardees is available through the Science and Service Awards page on SAMHSA's Web site at http://www.samhsa.gov/scienceandservice/.

Featured Report: Pathways to Juvenile Detention Reform

Pathways to Juvenile Detention Reform: Beyond Detention -- System Transformation Through Juvenile Detention Reform Mendel, Richard; Peterson, Julie
The Annie E. Casey Foundation
2007

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This report is book #14 in the Casey Foundation's Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) Pathways series on juvenile detention reform. It documents the ways in which detention reforms in general - and JDAI's comprehensive reform model in particular -- stimulate and support a broad array of other juvenile justice system improvements.

Announcements from MST Services and MST Institute

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Network Partner Advisory Council formed. The purpose of the council is to provide early input on issues related to the transport and implementation of standard MST including the potential consequences of decisions by MST Services. Congratulations to the following individuals for their appointment to the council:

• Bianca Albers (MST Denmark)
• David Bernstein (Center for Effective Intervention, Colorado)
• Justine Harris (MST New Zealand)
• Patrick Kanary (Center for Innovative Practices, Ohio)
• Gary Soltys (Adelphoi Village, Pennsylvania)
• Mike Williams (Advanced Behavioral Health, Connecticut)

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New Web site for MST Services. The MST Services Web site is being updated with a new look. Content will be largely unchanged but updated and expanded in some areas. The new site was launched on November 1. http://mstservices.com/

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SAMSHA Registry Complete. SAMHSA's National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP) listing for standard MST is complete. NREPP is a searchable database of interventions for the prevention and treatment of mental and substance use disorders and includes ratings on "readiness for dissemination".

Data Summary:

Quality of Research Ratings by Criteria (0.0-4.0 scale) - 7 outcomes, scores 2.9 to 3.2

Readiness for Dissemination Ratings by Criteria (0.0-4.0 scale) - 3 criteria, 4.0 on all

Additional reviews are underway for the following MST adaptations: MST-CAN (child abuse and neglect) MST-CM (contingency management for substance abuse) MST-PBS (problem sexual behavior) MST-Psychiatric (psychiatric service needs)

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News Briefs from Family Services Research Center at MUSC: New Research

Outcomes from Wraparound and Multisystemic Therapy in a Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) system-of-care demonstration site

Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders

This study examined outcomes for 320 youth in a Center for Mental Health Services system-of-care demonstration site. Youth received wraparound-only (n = 213), MST-only (n = 54), or wraparound + MST (n = 53). Participants were 12 years old on average and mostly White (90%), and 75% were Medicaid-eligible. Service use and functional and clinical outcomes were examined at 6-month intervals out to 18 months. All three groups improved over the study period. The MST-only group demonstrated more clinical improvement than the other groups. Functional outcomes did not differ significantly across groups. Youth in wrap + MST had higher baseline severity and experiences less clinical and functional change than the other two groups, despite more mental health services use. Targeted, evidence-based treatment may be more effective than system-level intervention alone for improving clinical symptoms among youth with serious emotional disorders served in community-based settings. New or amended approaches may be needed for youth with the most severe disorders.

303 Stambaugh, L.F., Mustillo, S.A., Burns, B.J., Stephens, R.L., Baxter, B., Edwards, D., DeKraai, M. (2007). Outcomes from wraparound and multisystemic therapy in a center for mental health services system-of-care demonstration site. Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, 15(3), 143-155.

New Publications

The following MST-related publications are available:

• 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.
• 281 Sheidow, A. J., & Henggeler, S. W. (in press). Multisystemic Therapy with Substance Using Adolescents: A Synthesis of the Research. In N. Jainchill (Ed.), Understanding and Treating Adolescent Substance Use Disorders. Kingston, NJ: Civic Research Institute.
• 301 Saldana, L., Chapman, J. E., Henggeler, S. W., Rowland, M. D. (in press). The organizational readiness for change scale in adolescent programs: Criterion validity. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment.

All MST-related publications can be located at: www.musc.edu/psychiatry/research/fsrc/pubs.htm

MST Community Updates & Announcements

Welcome New MST Teams
Welcome the following teams to the MST community of providers:

The Buckeye Ranch (2 teams)	OH
Alliance for Inclusion and Prevention, Inc.	MA
KS Consultants (2 teams)	PA
Seneca Center (2 teams)	CA
Youth Villages (2 teams)	NC
Eckerd Youth Alternative, Inc.	FL
Hempfield Behavioral Health	PA
Rosemont Center, Inc. (2 teams)	OH
TeamBuilders Counseling Services, Inc.	NM
Columbus Children's Hospital Behavioral Health	OH
Child and Family Services	HI
Synergy Outpatient Services	CO
Community Solutions, Inc. (2 teams)	GA
Providence Community Services	CA
Community Solutions, Inc.	LA
Star View Community Services	CA
Richmond NZ	New Zealand
Foundling- Blue Sky	NY
Intensive Supervision	Australia
KJPD	Switzerland