Multi-Systemic Therapy Focus Statement

Area of Focus Statement The purpose of this research proposal is to research ways to maximizes EBD in MST in order to encourage each clients/caregivers opinion toward a more optimistic view of the MST process.
Research Questions
1. What was your initial opinion of Multi-Systemic Therapy?
2. What action will you implement in effort of taking ownership in your Multi-Systemic Therapy experience?
3. What is one thing, if given the opportunity, you would change about MST?

Intervention/Innovation Description Through the encouragement of the use of EBP in multi-systemic Therapy, it is my hope is to see the clients/caregivers take ownership of their behavior while participating in multi-systemic Therapy (MST). This
can be done by establishing obtainable goals and pacing themselves to reach each goal. Also, through EBP, the participants should begin to remove negative influences from their lives. The idea is to create an environment in multi-systemic therapy that promotes success not just while they are participating, but beyond. “EBP refers to approaches and interventions that have been scientifically tested in controlled studies and proven effective.
EBP implies that there is a definable outcome(s)” (Evidence-Based Practice, 2015). This environment will foster change on the part of the agency, the MST therapist and the client/caregiver. This research will be conducted using qualitive and quantitive methods to collect data from the clients/caregivers. The qualitive method in the research will have a more hands on approach through interactive interview in each reporting session. The quanititive method will be use to collect data from the client/caregiver through surveys, vision sheets, and collateral interviews. The research will be evaluated by the MST program director and the MST supervisor in order to ensure fairness and respect of privacy of each subject. By reducing my research questions from seven initial questions to three is proving to be helpful in this process. One thing is certain, it will reduced redundancy of the questions. The three questions I have provided are straight to the point. In my opinion I find it works well with clients/caregivers when we are direct with them. The questions are,” What was your initial opinion of Multi-Systemic Therapy? What action will you implement in
effort of taking ownership in your MST experience? What is one thing, if given the opportunity, you would change about MST?,” this will provide an open door to explore deeper levels of obstacles as well as aids in making the MST experience successful.
Addressing the initial beliefs is the beginning. Mills speaks of Guba argument that the trustworthiness of qualitative inquiry could be established by addressing the following characteristics of a study: credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability (Mills, 2014). Mid-way Motivational interview will provide the trustworthiness vital to the overall success of this action research. It is my belief the process of elimination began when I reduced the research questions as mentioned in the previously. By reducing the seven questions to three questions was hard for me, but it in the long run it provided to be a clean approach to the research. Since I have been actively conducting the research, I see the benefit in the reduction. In my action research I am using Pre and Post Surveys as well as a midway Motivational interview. The three questions form the groundwork of the surveys that will provide a great amount of quantitative data in this action research. Also, the Motivational Interview will provide a great wealth of qualitative data that will be used in the research results. All collection tools used will provide a clearer picture of the effectiveness of Evidence Based Practices in relation to clients/caregivers and MST as a whole. The overall goal of my
action research is to shift the client and his family opinion of multi-systemic therapy from a negative one to a more positive one, reducing out-of-home placement and helping the family to successfully complete the multi-systemic therapy. With the goal in mind, it is important to understand the meaning of EBP. I will use the information gained to form my action research on getting the client and the family to shift their opinions as well as take ownership of their anti-social behavior, parenting issue in MST through the use of EBP. The major benefit of the intervention has been to prevent out of home placement and addressing the family issues as a whole. “Preventing unnecessary out-of- home placement for youth with behavioral and emotional needs is the goal of several public child-serving services, including child welfare, juvenile justice, and child mental health” (Lee, et al., 2014) . It is important for the family to be honest in order for multi-systemic therapy to work. Multi-systemic therapy helps to empower the parent with the tool needed to set and enforce rules for the client, monitor the negative peers, he/she is associating themselves around, build on family strengths, work through family problems, and to help the family to take ownership in their part of the problem.