The International Implementation of Multisystemic Therapy

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to consider, through the lenses of theory and research on technology transfer and the adoption and implementation of innovation, the international transport of evidencebased psychosocial treatments for youth, using Multisystemic Therapy (MST) as an example. MST is a well-validated family and community-based approach originally developed in the United States to treat serious juvenile offenders. This article describes challenges to MST transport internationally by virtue of the political, legal, economic, and cultural contexts in different nations. Modifications used to address these challenges and facilitate the international implementation of MST are described and pertain to pre-implementation processes, clinical staff, training materials and procedures, and clinical service delivery.

Tinkering with Perfection: Theory Development in the Intervention Cultural Adaptation Field

“…Selected model names and abbreviations in alphabetical order are: ADAPT-ITT (Latham et al 2010, Wingood andDiClemente 2008); A Heuristic Framework for the Cultural Adaptation of Interventions (Barrera and Castro 2006;Castro et al 2004Castro et al , 2010; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Map (CDC Map, McKleroy et al 2006); Cultural Adaptation Process (CAP, Domenech-Rodríguez and Wieling 2004;Domenech Rodríguez et al 2011); Cultural Sensitivity (CS, Resnicow et al 2000, Harris et al 2001; Ecological Validity Model (EVM, Bernal et al 1995;Bernal et al 2009); Multisystemic Therapy Adaptation Model (MST_Ad, Schoenwald et al 2008); Planned Intervention Adaptation (PIA) protocol (Ferrer-Wreder and Sundell in press;Sundell and Ferrer-Wreder 2011); Strengthening Families Program Adaptation Model (SFP_Ad- Kumpfer et al 2002Kumpfer et al , 2008.…”

“…Step Models Some program developers with experience supporting their interventions outside of their home country have developed frameworks to guide adaptations that might be made when importing their particular EBI cross-nationally (e.g., Kumpfer et al 2008;Schoenwald et al 2008). Two step models have been introduced for Multisystemic Therapy (MST; Schoenwald et al 2008) and the Strengthening Families Program (SFP; Kumpfer et al 2008), respectively.…”

Rolling Out Snap® an Evidence-Based Intervention: A Summary of Implementation, Evaluation, and Research

“…This emerged from an identified need to monitor new and existing SNAP ® Affiliate Sites more stringently as part of the established SNAP ® Accreditation Rating Framework and new licensing requirements. In recent years, such practices (fidelity) are becoming the standard for understanding clinical practice by including process of change mechanisms (Patterson et al, 2010;Schoenwald, Heiblum, Saldana, & Henggeler, 2008). The framework is broken down into a number of subsections that afford a rating for each with an overall fidelity rating at the end.…”

“…It is an investment that both the replication and host agencies commit to provide clinical staff with the necessary skills and information to implement the program as intended (Lipsey, 2009). It also provides ongoing communication, feedback support, and a quality assurance mechanism (Schoenwald et al, 2008).…”

“…Fidelity/Integrity Audits ensures the program is being delivered with the highest possible efficacy to ensure that the desired outcomes are achieved (Dane & Schneider, 1998;Forgatch, Patterson, & DeGarmo, 2005;Schoenwald et al, 2008). Auditing program integrity and fidelity is the responsibility of both the host organization and the replication agency as part of good clinical supervision and program management.…”