The Seton Hill University Family Therapy Clinic Project:Targeting Troubled Adolescents and Their Families

This project will establish a community-based Family Therapy Clinic, specializing in providing systemic therapeutic services to troubled youth (under 18 years old) and their families. The Family Therapy Clinic will be a part of Seton Hill University's Master of Arts program in Marriage and Family Therapy. Phase I of the project will consist of conceptualization and design of the Family Therapy Clinic, including securing the physical space, developing policies and procedures for the Clinic, and hiring of staff. In addition, during this phase development of a network for client referrals will begin. Phase II will begin when the Clinic opens and begins providing systemic treatment to clients. During Phase II there will be two basic operations that occur: a) services will be provided to the target population, and b) working with members of the juvenile justice and mental health system to determine the long term need for family therapy services for troubled youth and their families. Phase III will involve the development and implementation of an evaluation protocol for efficacy of services.

Outcomes identified for this project include: (1) reducing the "trouble" that is manifested by adolescents who have been identified as "troubled" on the basis of specific mental health and/or juvenile justice indicators and (2) preparing well-trained masters level family therapists with superior skills and experience in systemic treatment that they will utilize to serve the local community in the professional positions they assume post-graduation.

NCA/NCF