Year of Publication
2016
College
Public Health
Date Available
5-3-2016
Degree Name
Master of Public Health (M.P.H.)
Committee Member
Katherine Eddens, PhD
Advisor
Christina Studts, PhD
Co-Director of Graduate Studies
Robin Vanderpool, DrPH, CHES
Abstract
In this application for funding, DC YouthLink, a non-profit organization that connects adolescents in the juvenile justice system to community resources, proposes to implement an evidence-based mental health intervention into the juvenile justice system in Washington D.C. The Director of DC YouthLink will serve as the Principal Investigator for this pilot program; she, along with five trained staff members, will be responsible for implementing multisystemic therapy (MST), an intensive form of therapy designed specifically for at-risk youth and their families. We propose to intervene at three main stages of the juvenile justice system— intake, correctional placement/probation supervision, and reentry. The short-term goals of this program will be to increase screening rates for mental illness, access to an evidence-based intervention, and levels of family functioning. Previous studies suggest that the MST program’s combination of therapy, a supportive social network, and behavioral parent training leads to a long-term decrease in recidivism rates compared to the standard of care in the juvenile justice system. All project activities include an extensive plan for evaluation and dissemination. In conclusion, we believe that this program has the potential to provide much-needed mental health services to a particularly vulnerable population, which will benefit the youth and their families, as well as the Washington D.C. community as a whole.
Recommended Citation
Pilar, Meagan, "ACCESS FOR ADOLESCENTS: MULTISYSTEMIC THERAPY IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM" (2016). Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.). 98.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/cph_etds/98
