challenges and strategies for implementing evidence-based family treatments in complex settings:...
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Challenges and Strategies for Implementing
Evidence-based Family Treatments in Complex
Settings: Working within the Juvenile Justice System
Cynthia L. Rowe, Ph.D., Howard A. Liddle, Ed.D., and Gayle A. Dakof, Ph.D.
Center for Treatment Research on Adolescent Drug Abuse
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Presented at the American Family Therapy Association (AFTA) 8th Clinical Research Conference, “Evidence-based Family Treatments: Improving Family Therapy and Research by Advancing Clinician and Researcher
Collaborations;” Miami Lakes, FL; February 23rd, 2007
Overview What are the specific challenges of our
work within the juvenile justice system? How have we addressed these
challenges to successfully implement evidence-based family treatments within complex systems?
Is there any evidence that implementing evidence-based family treatments in real-world settings improves youths’ outcomes?
What are the current pressing questions?
“ Instead of helping, we are writing off these young Americans, we are releasing them
without attending to their needs for substance abuse treatment and other
services, punishing them without providing help to get back on track.”
-- Joseph A. Califano, CASA, 2004
Four of every five children and teen arrestees in state juvenile
justice systems have some involvement with drugs and
alcohol
Only 3.6 percent of these juvenile justice involved
youth receive any type of treatmentCASA 2004
“I have been there. I have witnessed the deplorable conditions forced upon these young people. The system must be changed to address the needs of these juveniles and prevent them from living a life crime and drug addiction.”
- Charles W. Colson, Founder and Chairman of the Board, Prison Fellowship, the world's largest outreach to prisoners, ex-prisoners, crime victims and their families.
“The juvenile courts of our country have become the leading service delivery system for children and youth with substance abuse problems, not by choice, but by necessity.”
- Reclaiming Futures: A model for judicial leadership (2006).
Multiple Interacting Problems of Juvenile
Offenders Serious substance abuse: 60 - 80% of
incarcerated samples Violent offenses: 70% of repeat
offenders Co-occurring mental health problems:
75% have a DSM disorder + CD and SUD Family disruption, conflict, and chaos School problems: 85% suspended/80%
LD Negative peers/ gang involvement High-risk sexual behavior
Antisocial Behavior Over Time
Early childhood risk factors and family problems set the stage Antisocial behavior compromises emotional and social development Long-term deficits across domains Family-based intervention during adolescence may halt the progression of drug abuse and antisocial behavior
Assessment and Intervention in the Juvenile
Justice System Youth screened at intake centers Screening conducted to determine level of risk Youth at lowest risk placed in diversion programs – few are empirically supported Comprehensive assessments conducted with moderate and high risk youth Highest risk youth stay in detention 3-21 days Disposition may involve court-ordered
treatment as part of probation or drug court
DJJ System Challenges JACs and facilities overcrowded/understaffed Assessments not conducted with all teens at risk due to limited resources Services for youth in JJ settings are limited and few have any empirical basis Families rarely involved in treatment Little coordination/follow-through between JJ facilities and treatment programs Bottom line: Most juvenile offenders don’t receive services at all – positive outcomes in the DJJ system are truly “against all odds”
Barriers to Implementing Effective Family Treatments
Focus is on punishment – not treatment
“Too many cooks” (DA/SA, PD, judge, PO)
Deep and pervasive pessimism about families
– belief that “boot camp” is helpful
Disconnect between research, clinical, and
DJJ systems – different theories of change,
different agendas, and different masters
Treatment models not seen as credible/
seen
as too complex to integrate within system
Lack of resources to fully implement the
models and sustain them over time
Evidence-based Family Treatments for Young
Offenders Multifaceted problems require multicomponent assessment and intervention strategy Families and other systems are primary contexts for development and change Effective interventions go beyond a uni- dimensional theory of change Multidimensional approaches address risk and protective factors within the individual teen, the parent, family system, and school, court, and other systems
“Today, we have solid evidence showing that rehabilitation works and is cost-effective. Studies by the Washington State Institute for Public Policy found proven treatment programs are a good investment. For example, Functional Family Therapy reduced recidivism by 38 percent, saving the tax-payers $10 for every dollar spent.”
-- Jonathon Fanton, President, MacArthur Foundation
Multisystemic Therapy for Youth in Juvenile Drug Court
Henggeler et al (2006) reported successful implementation of MST within the juvenile drug court program
Family Court + TAU and Drug Court + TAU performed poorly in comparison to combined effects of the 2 MST conditions (MST + Drug Court; MST + CM + Drug Court)
Multidimensional Family Therapy with Drug Abusing
Juveniles in Detention Assess youth immediately in detention
MDFT therapist intervenes with youth in detention and parents in their home
Continue MDFT after release, building upon foundation established in detention
Incorporates HIV/STD prevention
Targets multiple domains of functioning
Collaboration with PO, judge, PD
Multidimensional Family Therapy in Juvenile Drug
Court MDFT is currently being tested within Miami-Dade’s Juvenile Drug Court program
MDFT therapists work collaboratively with the court and probation officers to ensure compliance with the program
Outcomes expected to be better than drug court + standard group treatment
Incorporates HIV/STD prevention
Outcomes targeted across domains (e.g., individual, family, school functioning)
Implementing Evidence-based Family Treatments: “Are we
doing our own model?” Multi-level assessment/intervention strategy Negotiating multiple alliances Collaborative approach Assessing and reading feedback Planning and flexibility are complementary Accept “rough around the edges” outcomes Actively shaping and directing the process Maintaining intensity and focus
Addressing Barriers to Implementation
Start with what juvenile justice authorities feel needs to change Multisystemic assessment of context Identify multiple levels of system/ subsystem units Assess by joining system
Involve jj folks and the providers at all levels in assessing, planning, and implementing EBP
Work as a team with jj system and providers
Emphasize the efficacy of the approach in ways that are concrete and meaningful
SIMPLIFY and protocolize the approach
Addressing Barriers (cont.)
Communicate clearly about the intervention and the outcomes being achieved
Discuss how new treatment fits in/augments existing system and practices
Be creative in providing incentives for change Discuss and address obstacles to change in a
realistic, non-defensive way Reinforce knowledge gained with providers Create opportunities for providers to practice
skills, give feedback, and get feedback from them about intervention’s fit and any
obstacles
Transporting MDFT into an Adolescent Day Treatment
Program NIDA-funded project attempting to implement MDFT within an existing day treatment program for drug abusing young offenders
Day treatment program set in a large, complex public hospital system
Interrupted time-series design with 4 phases: Baseline, Training, Implementation, and Durability
First systematic study of the integration of MDFT in an existing drug treatment
program
Study Aims
Clinical Practices: Determine whether providers could implement MDFT with adequate fidelity within the day treatment program
Program Changes: Determine whether the program could be transformed based on MDFT principles and interventions
Client Changes: Determine whether MDFT implementation would positively impact youths’ outcomes across domains of functioning
Durability: Determine whether changes could be sustained without MDFT trainers
Study Phases
Phase I. Baseline: Assessment of provider practices, program environment, and clientoutcomes
Phase II. Training: Work with all staff in day treatment program and larger system
Phase III. Implementation: Continue expert supervision and booster trainings as
needed;Assess impact of training
Phase IV. Durability: MDFT experts withdraw;
Assess sustainability of approach
Adolescent Day Treatment Program
Multicomponent program/multidisciplinary staff
Behaviorally oriented “levels approach”
School through alternative education program
Group therapy daily and recreational activities
Psychiatric evaluation and intervention
Individual therapy weekly
Family therapy “as needed”
Implementation Approach
Guiding principle: Isomorphism between training approach and therapy model
Collaboration/ Consultation
Empowering clinical staff and redefining roles
Conceptualizing change at different levels of system and in different domains
Modeling interventions, practice, and feedback
Increasing staff accountability
Outcomes
Clinical Practices (Adherence to MDFT): Changes in sessions and contacts (parameters) Changes within sessions (interventions)
Program Changes: Changes in adolescents’ perceptions of program environment
Client Changes: Drug use, externalizing/internalizing symptoms Arrests and placements in controlled settings Involvement with delinquent peers
Increases in Sessions over Study Phases
0
0.05
0.1
0.15
0.2
0.25
0.3
Individual Sessions Family Sessions
Baseline
Implementation
Durability
More individual sessions on
days attended in Implementation and Durability
More family sessions on days
attended in Implementation and Durability
Increases in Contacts over Study Phases
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
Ave
rage N
um
ber
of W
eekly
Conta
cts
DJ J Contacts School Contacts
Baseline
Implementation
Durability
More contacts with schools in
Implementation and Durability
More DJJ contacts in Implementation than
Baseline
Slight decrease in DJJ contacts in
Durability
Adherence to MDFT Interventions
Coding of therapists’ charts revealed more focus on drugs during sessions in the Baseline phase (p<.05)
Therapists focused on school issues and adolescents’ thoughts and feelings about themselves more in the Implementation and Durability phases (p’s<.01)
Therapists in Implementation and Durability addressed more core MDFT content themes per session than sessions in Baseline (p<.05)
Ratings of sessions revealed significant increases in adherence to MDFT interventions over phases (adolescent-focused, family-focused, and engagement/reconnection interventions all p < .05)
Changes in Session Content over Study
Phases
0
20
40
60
80
100
Pro
port
ion o
f Sess
ions
Drugs Self School
Baseline
Implementation
Durability
More focus on drugs
in Baseline
More focus on self in
Implementation and Durability
More focus on school in
Implementation and Durability
Changes in Program Environment
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Baseline
Implementation
Durability
Adolescents felt the program was more
organized in Implementation than
Baseline
Adolescents felt the program had a more
practical orientation in Implementation and
Durability
Adolescents felt staff were more
clear about rules/expectations in Implementation
and Durability
Results: Client Outcomes LGM used to compare drug use, externalizing, and
internalizing trajectories between intake and 9 months for youth in the 3 study phases
Youth decreased drug use more rapidly in Implementation and Durability phases than youth in Baseline (p’s<.05)
Youth in Implementation and Durability decreased their externalizing and internalizing symptoms more rapidly than youth in Baseline (p<.05) according to self-report
Youth improved more rapidly in internalizing (p<.05) and externalizing symptoms (p=.01) in Durability relative to Baseline according to parent reports
Change in Self-Reported Externalizing Problems
50
60
70
80
Intake 1 Month Discharge 9 Months
Baseline
Implementation
Durability
Youth in Implementation and Durability improved more rapidly than youth in Baseline
Change in Self-Reported Internalizing Problems
40
50
60
Intake 1 Month Discharge 9 Months
Baseline
Implementation
Durability
Youth in Implementation and Durability improved more rapidly than youth in Baseline
Percent in Controlled Environment
at Follow-up over Study Phases39
8
00
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
Baseline
Implementation
Durability
Summary of Findings
Clinical Practices: Therapists implemented MDFT in accordance with treatment parameters and interventions
Program Environment: Program was more practical, individually focused, organized, and clear following training in MDFT
Client Outcomes: Youths’ drug use, internalizing and externalizing symptoms, peer delinquency, and placements were reduced following MDFT training
Durability: Staff continued to use MDFT and to demonstrate outcomes with youth a year after MDFT experts withdrew
Implications of Findings
Evidence-based family treatment was successfully implemented within a complex hospital system, overcoming many obstacles
Implementation was successful in impacting all three levels of outcomes (provider, program, client)
Implementation successfully created lasting change in fundamental areas of provider and program functioning that impacted client outcomes
Current Pressing Questions How can evidence-based family treatments
be integrated within residential settings? Can protocols and training components be
simplified to help juvenile justice workers at different levels implement key interventions?
What can these approaches offer to make progress on challenges of workforce development/retention?
How can methods be improved to measure whether we’re “doing our model?”
Resources for Working with Drug Abusing Juvenile Offenders
Barnoski, R. (2002). Monitoring vital signs: Integrating a standardized assessment into Washington State’s Juvenile Justice System. In R. Corrado et al. (Eds.), Multi-problem violent youth. IOS Press.
Brown, D., Maxwell, S., DeJesus, E., & Schiraldi, V. (2002). Barriers and promising approaches to workforce and youth development for young offenders. The Annie E. Casey Foundation, Baltimore, MD.
CASA (2004). Criminal neglect: Substance abuse, juvenile justice and the children left behind.
Grisso, T. (1998). Forensic evaluation of juvenile offenders: A manual for practice. Sarasota, FL. Professional Resource Press.
Hoge, R., & Andrews, D. (1996). Assessing the youthful offender: Issues and techniques. New York: Plenum Press.
Liddle, H. (2002). Multidimensional Family Therapy Treatment (MDFT) for adolescent cannabis users. Volume 5 of the Cannabis Youth Treatment (CYT) manual series. Rockville, MD: Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services.
NIDA (1999). Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A research-based guide. (NIH publication 99-4180). Rockville, MD.
NIDA (2006). Principles of Drug Abuse Treatment for Criminal Populations: A research-based guide. (NIH publication 06-5316). Rockville, MD.
OJJDP (1995). Guide for implementing the comprehensive strategy for serious, violent, and chronic juvenile offenders. Washington, DC: OJJDP.
Reclaiming Futures Fellowship Report (2006). A model for judicial leadership: Community responses to juvenile substance abuse. Reclaiming Futures.
Acknowledgements
We gratefully acknowledge the National Institute on Drug Abuse for supporting this work through many grants, including the Criminal Justice Drug Abuse Treatment Studies (CJDATS: Grant No. 5 U01 DA16193; P50 DA; H. Liddle, PI), “Family-based Juvenile Drug Court Services” (Grant no. 1 R01 DA17478; G. Dakof, PI), and our “Bridging” study (Grant No. R01 DA3089, H. Liddle, P.I.).
We are also indebted to the many therapists and the teens and families who have participated in these studies to develop and test MDFT over more than 20 years.
Please see our website for more information on the Center’s program of research: www.miami.edu/ctrada or contact me at [email protected] for more details.