Multi-Systemic Therapy

Definition

Multi-Systemic Therapy (MST) is an intensive community-based and in-home treatment program designed to make positive changes in the various social systems. This family-driven and youth-guided therapy looks to issues such as home, school, community, and peer relations that contribute to the anti-societal behaviors of youth at risk of commitment into the juvenile justice system. Read the rest of this entry »

Youth Bridge Receives Grant from Target for

Anger Management Program

Fayetteville, Ark. (September 2, 2009) — Youth Bridge, Inc. today announced a partnership with Target in recognition of its efforts in building brighter futures for teens and families In Northwest Arkansas.  The grant goes into effect this fall and will be used to counsel youth and their families on how to effectively manage anger and avoid destructive behaviors. This will be done through group counseling sessions, family sessions and individual counseling with our professional Youth Bridge staff. The generous donation from Target® will also allow Youth Bridge staff to make strides to prevent and eventually end family violence among the Northwest Arkansas community as a whole.

Sam Wallace, Youth Bridge assistant Program Director says, “The anger management program is a vital component in many of our clients’ treatment plans. Without help from organizations such a Target we would not be able to help so many youth deal with their anger issues. Anger is a common emotion when dealing with difficult situations, but coming to terms with that anger and learning to deal with it in a healthy way is something Youth Bridge teaches through our Anger Management Programs. ” Read the rest of this entry »

Youth Bridge, Inc. Announces Multisystemic Therapy Program

Free informational meeting open to public

Bentonville, Ark. (January 19, 2010) – Youth Bridge, Inc will be hosting the first Multisystemic Therapy (MST) informational program at the Northwest Arkansas Non-Profit Center on January 22, 2010 from 9:00 am-12:00 p.m.

MST is an intensive community-based and in-home treatment program for at-risk youth designed to make positive changes in the various social systems. This program will benefit not only counselors involved in MST but parents who think their children will benefit from this type of therapy. Youth Bridge is the only agency in Northwest and North Central Arkansas offering this type of unique therapy.

We are happy to announce that Marshall E. Swenson, MSW, MBA, Vice President for New Program Development, MST Services, will be giving an overview of MST program. This program is free and open to the public. Read the rest of this entry »

Wal-Mart Jewelry Department does it again! Youth Bridge was the recipient of a $1000 grant awarded on September 16, 2009  to support our Partners Against Substance Abuse program. In 2008, Youth Bridge was also fortunate to receive a $1000 donation from the Wal-Mart Jewelry Department to go toward the Partners Against Substance Abuse (PASA) program.  Without the generous support from friends such as Wal-Mart, our programming and outreach to our area youth would be limited.  From all of us at Youth Bridge, we say a sincere “thank you”!

Our PASA program recognizes that Northwest Arkansas has a considerable problem with substance abuse. Did you know that: According to the 2007 Arkansas Legislative Task Force on Substance Abuse Prevention  and the 2008 Arkansas Prevention Needs Assessment reports on adolescent alcohol and substance abuse,  some frightening statistics indicate that of the 88,000 students in the  6,8,10,12^th grade that participated in the assessments:That 45% have used alcohol sometime in their lives

• That 20.5% have used alcohol during the last 30 days
• Nearly half of all 12^th grades reported drinking at home or at someone else’s home.
• Arkansas youth drink at a younger age than their peers throughout the nation, averaging at 12.6 years.
• One in four Arkansas 12^th grades report binge drinking (5 or more drinks per episode)
• Over 800 6^th graders reported binge drinking
• Thirty percent of 10^th graders report drinking alcohol during a thirty-day period of time
• One in five teens have abused  prescription pain medication
• That 85% of all overdose deaths are caused by prescription drug use
• In Washington County, 15% of 10^th graders and 24% of 12^th graders admitted to abusing prescription drugs
• That 6% of the 10^th graders admitted to abusing over-the-counter (OTC) drugs while 10% of the 12^th graders admitted to abusing OTC drugs
• In Benton County, 16% of high school sophomores and 22% of seniors have abused prescription drugs