1. Testimony to the Senate Task Force on Youth Violence Multisystemic Therapy: A scientifically-supported intervention to reduce youth violence Paul Block, PhDRachel Hallene, MSW DirectorMST Program Director Psychological Centers

2. Two main points Don’t take our word for it Don’t take our word for itbut… Don’t set us up for failure Don’t set us up for failure

3. Centers of psychological expertise offering proven methods to improve real world problems:  Behavioral health evaluation and intervention  Behavioral Science and Public Policy  Community-Based Services  Infant and Early Childhood Behavioral Health Services  Integrated Care  New England Center for Organizational Excellence  School-Based Services  Sexual Health  Workplace Wellness  Psychological Centers/URI Counseling Center Professional Continuing Education Program

4. We know a lot about what works “Certainly teenagers can be exasperating, but before beheading, consider grounding.”

5. Multisystemic Therapy (MST) works

6. We also know a lot about what doesn’t work

7. Causal Model of Delinquency, Violence & Drug Use Family School Delinquent Peers Delinquent Behavior Prior Delinquent Behavior Low Parental Monitoring Low Affection High Conflict Low School Involvement Poor Academic Performance Elliott, Huizinga & Ageton (1985)

8. Multisystemic Therapy (MST) works

9. Case Example How MST works to reduce youth violence in the real world of Rhode Island How MST works to reduce youth violence in the real world of Rhode Island

10. Phase II System of Care in the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth and Families

11. Why don’t we all do what works?

12. OSNCF service planning process Overarching safety, perma- nency, or well- being goal Critical child, family, & systems changes needed to achieve this overarching goal Child, family, environmen tal strengths that will help achieve these changes Primary current barriers to these needed changes Interventions that build on strengths to address current barriers

13. Knowing what we should do doesn’t mean we can do it

14. What you can do (to) for us Incentives Incentives Whether shared risk, rewards for effectiveness, or helping us with investment in what we should do Whether shared risk, rewards for effectiveness, or helping us with investment in what we should do Structured processes Structured processes Complicated cases CAN be served with less, but ONLY if we have a tight process for managing the effectiveness of our efforts Complicated cases CAN be served with less, but ONLY if we have a tight process for managing the effectiveness of our efforts Accountability Accountability

15. To contact us Paul Block, PhD, Director Paul Block, PhD, Director Psychological Centers Paul.Block@PsychologicalCenters.com 401 490-8935 Rachel Hallene, MSW, MST Program Director Rachel Hallene, MSW, MST Program Director Rachel.Hallene@PsychologicalCenters.com 401 490-8900