Session: Long-Term Criminal Justice, Mental Health, and Cost-Benefit Outcomes of Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care for Adolescent Females (Society for Prevention Research 21st Annual Meeting)

Introduction: Females involved in the juvenile justice system are at risk for ongoing adult system involvement. The most current data show a 50% increase in female offending over the last decade, with girls now accounting for 30% of all juvenile arrests. Community responses to the problems associated with female delinquency have been limited by the lack of data identifying intervention targets and the lack of effective programs, suggesting that models that address the needs of females should be a priority amongst prevention researchers.

      Girls involved in the juvenile justice system have a constellation of mental health and behavioral needs. Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care (MTFC) is one of only a few evidence-based practices that have targeted preventive intervention for adolescent female delinquency. MTFC places one youth in a well-trained and supported foster home. The average length of treatment is 6–9 months, with services involving a coordinated team of providers (program supervisor, foster parents, skills coach, individual and family therapist) who all work in tandem.

      Through a series of randomized clinical trials, girls who received MTFC showed a decrease in delinquent behaviors, mental health symptoms, and adolescent pregnancy, and an increase in school performance compared to those in Group Care (GC). MTFC was selected as a Blueprint for Violence Prevention Program, and was identified by the Coalition for Evidence-Based Policy as meeting “top tier” evidence of effectiveness. Nevertheless, the long-term effectiveness of the MTFC program in preventing adult system involvement and mental health maladjustment are unknown.

Methods/Results: This symposium will describe long-term outcomes for 166 females who participated in the original MTFC-for-girls effectiveness trials. Despite the over 10-year gap in contact for some participants, 92% of the original sample were located and participated. First, outcomes related to ongoing criminal justice involvement will be provided suggesting that MTFC shows sustained effects for girls with regard to criminal referrals. Second, mental health outcomes related to depression will be presented. Receipt of MTFC was associated with greater declines in depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation into early adulthood. Finally, cost-benefit outcomes related to ongoing system involvement of this sample will be presented, demonstrating the long-term cost savings of MTFC relative to GC.

Conclusions: A discussant with expertise in interventions for high risk youth will facilitate discussion of ongoing prevention efforts for this population and illuminate risk and protective factors that are or are not successfully addressed by the MTFC model.