Juvenile Children
Dear El Pomar Foundation
The increased rates of criminal offenses among juvenile children have elicited reactions from society on the best methods to mitigate the issue. Multisystemic Therapy (MST) has proved to be a useful tool for monitoring juvenile children. The MST approach has been extensively used in the prevention of criminal behaviors and violent offenses among children with such antisocial behaviors. Antisocial behaviors among juvenile children have been on the rise regarding the levels of exposure to the dynamic world among children. Some research works have linked antisocial behaviors to modern technology. In the justification of such findings, the researchers argue that when children are exposed to violent media contents, they are likely to develop violent behaviors. The correction of the antisocial behavior among juvenile children is thus an urgent issue, which needs an immediate response from the social mentors. The social interventions need to factor in the dynamic nature of society. In America, about one million youths are involved in one-to-one relationships, and thus increasing the positive developmental outcomes using the MST. The MST approach is amicable for the correction of the antisocial behaviors because it focuses on multiple determinants of such behaviors, and is delivered in the natural environment for youths.
There is a need for society to safeguard its future generation. In this regard, the MST approach if integrated into any system can help reduce the rates of criminal offenses in adulthood. The correctional facilities such as yours must, therefore, work towards ensuring proper integration of the MST approaches in mitigating the antisocial behaviors. MST has proved beneficial in the treatment of chronic juvenile offenders compared to juvenile justice services. MST has improved adolescent symptomology and decreased incarceration by about 47 percent for children. One of the determinants of improved outcomes when using the MST is the adherence factor. Researches have linked high adherence ratings to substantially better results. Adherence also leads to decreased delinquent peer affiliations, and consequently decreasing the delinquent behavior. The institutions should also focus on the family level of adherence since it is also another factor affecting the performance index of the MST.
The mentoring relationships for improved, and positive developmental outcomes requires systematic approaches to the youths. For the effective mentorship programs to have the anticipated effects on the youths, the mentor must focus on building the desired rapport with the individual youth. The building of the rapport encompasses instilling trust, and empathy through mutual consent. It is thus imperative for the mentors and youths to spend time together consistently for some period. During this period, bonding occurs, which also informs the better outcomes using the MST. The MST in this type of mentoring environment focuses on the action-oriented therapeutic methods to mitigate the behavior problems in the youths. The MST works in a way that it targets specific factors the ecology of the youth as well as the family’s ecology, which contribute to the overall behaviors in the youth. The MST therapy is done based on the individual desires, and the desires of the family. In such a way, the MST interventions are pragmatic, goal-oriented, and target the social networks that contribute to antisocial behaviors. The MST is thus an intervention which should be utilized by the community caregivers to improve the discipline among the caregivers, and enhance effective family relationships.