Multisystemic Therapy Research and Outcomes

Largest Body of Evidence of Successful Interventions for High-Risk Youth and Families

90+
Studies
$75m+
In Research Funding
140+
Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles
57,000+
Families Included Across All Studies

Delivering Positive Outcomes Worldwide

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Fewer Out-of-Home Placements

MST helps keep youth safely at home by reducing reliance on detention, residential care, and other out-of-home placements.

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Fewer Violent and Felony Offenses

Communities using MST see meaningful declines in serious and repeat offenses, improving public safety and long-term youth outcomes.

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Improved School Engagement

MST is associated with fewer suspensions and expulsions, helping youth stay connected to school and on track academically.

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Stronger Long-Term Family Functioning

Families build skills that support lasting change, including improved supervision, communication, and problem-solving.

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High Program Completion Rates

MST’s intensive, family-centered approach achieves about a 90% completion rate, compared to roughly 50% for many alternative models, increasing the likelihood of positive outcomes.

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Strong Return on Public Investment

MST delivers measurable financial returns by reducing costly system involvement while improving outcomes for youth and families.

Juvenile Justice-Involved MST Youth Outcomes:

54 %
Fewer Re-arrests
75 %
Fewer Violent Felony Arrests
54 %
Fewer Out-of-Home Placements

Child Welfare-Involved MST Youth Outcomes:

95 %
No Reabuse Incidents
86 %
Youth Live At Home
91 %
Youth Report No PTSD

Endorsements

Multisystemic Therapy Research Resources

Multisystemic Therapy Research at a Glance

Download this resource to explore published Multisystemic Therapy (MST) research, including outcome studies, implementation findings, benchmarking data, and results from traditional MST and MST clinical adaptations. The document also highlights research on transporting MST into real-world community practice settings.

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Multisystemic Therapy Research at a Glance (Summary Version)

Download this summary for a brief, easy-to-read overview of Multisystemic Therapy (MST) research, highlighting key studies, outcomes, and implementation findings across traditional MST and clinical adaptations.

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MST Effectiveness Data Report

Download this data report for visual summaries and outcomes showing how Multisystemic Therapy (MST) helps young people and families succeed.

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European Research Summary

This document provides a summary of the many areas of MST research and proven outcomes conducted in Europe with traditional MST and MST clinical adaptations as well as research on the transport of MST to community practice settings.

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Ready to Bring Multisystemic Therapy to Your Community?