Helping Families Take The Lead

When it comes to mental health outcomes, it is common practice to rely on clinical data that points to successes in numbers. This data helps us to adjust strategies, evaluate methods, and advocate for resources on behalf of our community with the goal to improve the overall quality and accessibility of care provided to our clients. However, those numbers don’t always tell the whole story. Our clients do. Their growth, their persistence, and their achievements are the evidence that this work is meaningful and impactful.

The Multisystemic Therapy (MST) Program focuses on empowering caregivers to assist and help deal with the challenges their youth or adolescent may be experiencing by improving relationships they develop in schools, in their neighborhood, and at home. Horizon works closely with the local court system to identify and connect with youth and adolescents, ages 12-17, who have committed a first-time offense. The benefit of this approach is treating the problem behavior early and within the environment where it typically occurs instead of in a detention setting. In this unique model of treatment, families are invited to be collaborators in the development of the behavioral change/treatment plan.

After her son completed the MST Program, Becky shared with us “When he was dealing with an issue, it affected the whole family, and what the family did affected him.” Becky’s sixteen year old son lives with autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). “I didn’t realize how much he felt like all I did was yell at him. It was eyeopening for him to tell me how he felt and feel safe in opening up as a teenage boy.” From that point, Becky and her son were able to learn and practice tools that allowed them to communicate better and strengthen their relationship. With the support of their therapist at Horizon, Becky and her son were empowered to take the lead in setting goals and building supports that were best suited to their needs. Becky shared that “Naturally, I was defensive at first - a stranger coming into our home. But our therapist immediately relaxed my concerns and had a way about listening without judging and making my son feel safe.”

We share with you one glowing success story, but we are also proud of the successes that often go unshared. Such as the 54 families who participated in MST in 2021, the 93% of youth living at home, 97% in school or working, and 95% of youth who have not been re-arrested as a result of the MST Program. Above all, we are grateful for the collaboration amongst our interdisciplinary teams here at Horizon, families and therapists, local school systems, and our partners in the judicial system, that continue to drive these successes. Not just in numbers, but in the lives of the students, friends, neighbors, and families that we call community.