Program Language: Swiss German

MST-BSF is an ecologically based treatment model for families involved with child welfare services due to physical abuse and/or neglect plus parental substance misuse. MST-BSF is designed to provide all families with intensive safety planning, Reinforcement-Based Treatment for adult substance misuse, a relapse prevention group, and clarification of the abuse or neglect. On an individualized, as-needed basis, children and adults receive treatment for clinical challenges such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), parenting, and family communication. To assure model fidelity, an array of quality assurance procedures is integrated into the model. The model is operated through a team consisting of a supervisor, a family resource specialist who focuses on basic needs, and three therapists that carry a caseload maximum of 4 families. Services are provided a minimum of 3 times per week plus there are on-call services for crises available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. A psychiatrist is available 10-20% time. A close working relationship with child welfare services is important.

MST-CAN is for families with serious clinical needs who have come to the attention of child protective services (CPS) due to physical abuse and/or neglect. MST-CAN clinicians work on a team of 3 therapists, a crisis caseworker, a part-time psychiatrist who can treat children and adults, and a full-time supervisor. Each therapist carries a maximum caseload of 4 families. Treatment is provided to all adults and children in the family. Services are provided in the family's home or other convenient places. Extensive safety protocols are geared towards preventing re-abuse and placement of children and the team works to foster a close working relationship between CPS and the family. Empirically based treatments are used when needed and include functional analysis of the use of force, family communication, and problem solving, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for anger management and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), clarification of the abuse or neglect, and Reinforcement-Based Therapy (RBT) for adult substance abuse.