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BRIDGTON/OXFORD/FARMINGTON/RUMFORD – Tri-County Mental Health Services (TCMHS) is pleased to announce the expansion of its Multi Systemic Home Based Therapy Program (MST) into Northern Cumberland and Franklin Counties. 

MST is a family-oriented, home-based program for children, adolescents and families affected by emotional and behavioral difficulties.  It targets chronic, violent, or substance abusing juvenile offenders at high risk of out-of-home placement and their families.  MST is a powerful approach which works with each youth across their many settings (family, peer, school, neighborhood) and uses the strengths of each system to encourage behavior change.  It is based on the philosophy that the most effective and ethical route to help youth is through helping their families and connecting with all the ‘systems’ in which they live.   Nationally and internationally, MST programs have been shown to have a tremendous and long-term impact, reducing youth criminal activity, reducing antisocial behavior including substance abuse, and achieving these outcomes at a cost savings by decreasing incarceration and out-of-home placement rates.  

TCMHS has been providing MST in the Androscoggin and Oxford regions for three years.  “We have seen such positive outcomes that we are creating a second MST team that will serve Franklin and Northern Cumberland Counties,” says Arabella Perez, LCSW, Tri-County’s Manager for Child and Family Services.  TCMHS is one of only two certified MST providers in Maine.  For information about MST, contact Arabella Perez at 1-800-787-1155.

Tri-County Mental Health Services is Maine’s most comprehensive agency dealing with the psychological and social well-being of children, adults, and elders. TCMHS serves over 6,000 individuals each year with innovative programs and services addressing mental health, substance abuse, mental retardation/developmental disabilities, autism, and more. Its philosophy of building toward recovery and sensitivity to traumatic experiences of consumers gives hope to individuals, families, and communities in Androscoggin, Northern Cumberland, Franklin and Oxford counties.