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

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

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

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

Multisystemic Therapy (MST) works

We also know a lot about what doesn’t work

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)

Multisystemic Therapy (MST) works

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

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

Why don’t we all do what works?

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

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

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

To contact us Paul Block, PhD, Director Paul Block, PhD, Director Psychological Centers Rachel Hallene, MSW, MST Program Director Rachel Hallene, MSW, MST Program Director