Multisystemic Therapy for Texas Youth

Multisystemic Therapy (MST) is a proven family- and community-based treatment for at-risk youth with intensive needs and their families. It has proven most effective for treating youth who have committed violent offenses, have serious mental health or substance abuse concerns, are at risk of out-of-home placement, or who have experienced abuse and neglect.

What is the Extent of the Need?

• In Texas, there are an estimated 20,000 children and youth (ages 6–17) either currently or at very high risk for out-of-home or out-of-school placement because of their mental health needs. Using the statewide roll-out of MST in Louisiana and other states as benchmarks, we estimate that of these 20,000, approximately 7,000 Texas youth and their families who are eligible for Medicaid would benefit from MST services.
• Given that MST services typically last between three to six months and MST teams should serve at least 50 youth per year, Texas would need approximately 140 teams to meet statewide need.
• The 88th Texas Legislature invested a total of $32,450,000 in MST, which is expected to continue funding for nine existing teams and result in the creation of 15 new teams.

Read or download the full white paper Multisystemic Therapy for Texas Youth.