FARMINGTON – Tri-County Mental Health Services has announced the expansion of its Multi-Systemic Home-Based Therapy Program into northern Cumberland and Franklin counties.

The program 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.

The program 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.

Tri-County has been providing services 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,” said Arabella Perez, LCSW, Tri-County’s manager for child and family services.

Tri-County is one of only two certified program providers in Maine. For information about MST, contact Arabella Perez at 1-800-787-1155.