This study examined outcomes for 320 youth in a Center for Mental
Health Services system-of-care demonstration site.Youth received
wraparound-only (n = 213),MST-only (n = 54),or wraparound + MST
(n = 53). Participants were 12 years old on average and mostly White (90%),
and 75% were Medicaid-eligible. Service use and functional and clinical outcomes
were examined at 6-month intervals out to 18 months. All three groups
improved over the study period. The MST-only group demonstrated more
clinical improvement than the other groups. Functional outcomes did not differ
significantly across groups.Youth in wrap + MST had higher baseline severity
and experienced less clinical and functional change than the other two
groups, despite more mental health service use. Targeted, evidence-based
treatment may be more effective than system-level intervention alone for improving
clinical symptoms among youth with serious emotional disorders
served in community-based settings. New or amended approaches may be
needed for youth with the most severe disorders.
