Uvalde, Comal, & Hays Counties Introduce Multi-Systemic Therapy Team to Support At-Risk Youth at Kickoff Event
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On July 26, the Meadows Institute participated in a kickoff event to introduce a new Multisystemic Therapy (MST) specialized response team supporting at-risk youth in Uvalde, Comal, and Hays Counties. The event, hosted by Hill Country Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities (MHDD) Centers, focused on educating community stakeholders about MST and how it will be implemented.
MST is a proven family- and community-based treatment for at-risk youth with intensive needs and their families. It is the only evidence-based treatment that has been shown to reduce violent crime among adolescents, bringing rates down by as much as 75%.
The new MST program is a collaborative effort between the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and the Hill Country Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities (MHDD) Centers and was funded as part of the state’s initial $105.5 million response to the Uvalde tragedy. With guidance from the Meadows Institute, state leaders allocated $4.7 million to fund seven new MST teams across the state.
“This is a direct benefit of the state’s efforts to help troubled young people and families following last year’s tragedy at Robb Elementary,” said Tod Citron, Hill Country MHDD CEO.
The 88th Legislature recently appropriated a total of $32.45 million to maintain and expand MST capacity by an estimated 15 additional teams starting later this year.