MST marks 10 years

As Catholic Charities continues to grow in Western New York, it recently reflected on one of its programs that was founded 10 years ago.

The Multisystemic Therapy Counseling program has been helping families and youths for a decade.

The program was designed to help at-risk youth and their families. To date, 334 families have been served by this program.

MST is a family- and home-based treatment that strives to change how youth function in their natural settings - home, school and neighborhood - in ways that promote positive social behavior while decreasing antisocial behavior.

In its 10th year, MST has aided 35 youths and their families. Of that group, after being discharged, 94 percent continued to reside at home, 87 percent stayed in school and none had new arrests.

"The MST program's ultimate goal of empowering the youth's caregiver with the skills and resources needed to address and independently manage the youth's behavior contributes greatly to the program's high percentage of successful outcomes," said Tish Brady, Catholic Charities Metropolitan District Services director.