YOS believes the family unit is an incredible asset in every youth’s life and should be nurtured and maintained.
Multisystemic Family Therapy (MST)
A family-focused, evidence-based initiative designed to serve youth ages 12-17 who struggle with complex emotional, social, and academic issues, as well as delinquency, such as:
- Truancy and academic performance
- Serious disrespect and disobedience
- Aggressive behaviors (i.e., fighting and property destruction)
- Criminal activity
- Drug and alcohol abuse
- Runaway tendencies
The YOS MST Program is available for all Cook County, IL residents. Our MST therapists provide home-based and 24/7 on-call services for 3 to 6 months, creating individualized treatment plans that incorporate the family’s values, beliefs, and culture. Our primary goal is to prevent the youth from being removed from their homes and getting involved in the juvenile justice system. We help the youth develop the necessary skills to modify their behavior positively while also providing parents and primary caregivers with the resources and skills they need to address the challenges of raising teenagers with behavioral problems.
MST-EA (for Emerging Adults ages 17-26)
Multisystemic Therapy for Emerging Adults (MST-EA) is a program to help young people aged 17-26 exit the IL Department of Juvenile Justice. These individuals are at the highest risk for adverse outcomes due to multiple co-occurring problems and extensive systems involvement. The program typically runs for 7-8 months and focuses on young adults’ skill development and identifying resources to help overcome barriers to success. Unlike traditional MST, which involves the entire family, MST-EA is specifically tailored to the young adult and their unique needs.
Multi-Systemic Therapy for Problematic Sexual Behavior (MST–PSB)
MST-PSB is an evidence-based adaptation of MST. MST-PSB is a family therapy program designed to serve youth displaying problematic sexual behavior (PSB).