Multisystemic Therapy for Child Abuse and Neglect (MST-CAN)
Multisystemic Therapy for Child Abuse and Neglect (MST-CAN) is an adaptation of Multisytemic Therapy for families who come to the attention of child protective services. MST-CAN aims to prevent child abuse and neglect, ensure child safety, and keep families together by averting placement into foster care or other out-of-home placements. It also aims to reduce emotional and behavioral health problems and increase social support.
MST-CAN is delivered to families by a team that includes therapists, a crisis caseworker, and a part-time psychiatrist. A supervisor helps to coordinate and oversee the services and staff. Services are individualized based on each family’s particular needs. MST-CAN is intended for children between the ages of 6 and 17, as well as their families. Families may receive MST-CAN services for six to nine months. They may participate in three to five sessions per week and can access services around the clock, as needed. Usually, services are delivered in the family’s home, but location can be flexible based on the needs of the family. All staff receive standard MST training, MST-CAN-specific training, and trauma treatment training. Additional training is offered through weekly phone calls and quarterly on-site booster trainings.
Child/Adolescent Services
Multisystemic Therapy for Child Abuse and Neglect (MST-CAN) directly provides services to children/adolescents and addresses the following:
- Physical abuse and/or neglect for which the report to child protective services was filed within the last 180 days, youth aggression, anxiety and trauma/PTSD, substance abuse, difficulty managing anger, safety risks, difficulties with family problem solving, negative family communication, physical force in parenting, neglectful parenting, parental psychological aggression, low social support, parental blame of the child for the abuse/neglect, and school difficulties.
Parent/Caregiver Services
Multisystemic Therapy for Child Abuse and Neglect (MST-CAN) directly provides services to children/adolescents and addresses the following:
- Has a child who experienced physical abuse and/or neglect for which the report to CPS was filed within the last 180 days, anxiety and trauma/PTSD, depression, substance abuse, difficulty managing anger, safety risks, difficulties with family problem solving, negative family communication, physical force in parenting, neglectful parenting, parental psychological aggression, low social support, parental blame of the child for the abuse/neglect, and difficulties maintaining housing or jobs.
Services Involve Family/Support Structures:
This program involves the family or other support systems in the individual’s treatment: Direct treatment services provided to the family in collaboration with other supportive individuals, including those part of the treatment team
Recommended Intensity:
Services are intensive, with intervention sessions being conducted from three times per week to daily. However, there is no expectation of a specific number of contact hours, as staff contact waxes and wanes according to the needs of the families. Session length depends on the needs of the family and may range from 50 minutes to 2 hours. Multiple types of sessions may be conducted in one day (e.g., parental drug screening and session; family communication and problem solving).
To learn more about MST-CAN, visit the MST Services website https://www.mstservices.com/mst-can-child-welfare-program