District Heights Family and Youth Services Center partners with the Family Therapy Training Institute of Miami to provide Brief Strategic Family Therapy for at-risk youth and their families.

The District Heights Family and Youth Services Center, a longtime partner of the Family Therapy Training Institute of Miami, runs a family counseling service called the Children in Need of Supervision Program, also known as CINS.  CINS is run in partnership with Prince George's County Department of Juvenile Services.

"CINS began in April 2008 in District Heights as a way to prevent troubled youths from entering the juvenile justice system", said Priscilla Souto, executive director of the District Heights Family and Youth Services Center.

"It takes a whole village to raise a child." This is the philosophy at the Youth Services Center.  As their website indicates, their mission includes curtailing juvenile delinquency, reducing family disruptions and promoting positive development for youth. As these factors work together, they help keep the at-risk youth from ever entering the juvenile justice system.

In order to achieve these goals, the CINS counseling focuses on using the "Brief Strategic Family Therapy (BSFT)" model, trained, implemented and monitored in collaboration with FTTIM™.

In an interview last year with a reporter from the Gazette, Souto observed "I would say that this [BSFT] is one of our core programs at District Heights Family and Youth Services Center, because it's evidence-based and it serves the entire Prince George's County area. It's extremely crucial to the community."

During 2008, the first year of CINS, 86 percent of the youths who received services exhibited zero recidivism, Souto said. During fiscal 2009, 195 youths and their families received services from CINS.

Because of their success with their BSFT program, District Heights has been able to acquire monies at this time of budget cuts to expand their BSFT program.

The Smiths [name changed to protect privacy] started family counseling after Suzy Smith became concerned about her 15 year old nephew John, of whom she has custody, skipping class in High School. Suzy was concerned with John's "explorations" into the questionable activities of his peers.

Suzy had previously placed John in individual counseling sessions elsewhere, but they had not proven as effective as engaging in family sessions conducted at the District Heights Family and Youth Services Center using the Brief Strategic Family Therapy model.

Both John and Suzy appreciate this method of therapy, and communication is flowing more freely. John told the Gazette "I look back at what I did wrong and what I did right... on how I could've done differently."

And Suzy commented that "...she prefers this family counseling because the dialogue offers a chance to see what's going on inside his head and for him to see how his actions affect her emotions." Suzy summarized her praise of the BSFT method provided by District Heights Family and Youth Services Center by stating "Family counseling services are necessary."

The Family Therapy Training Institute of Miami is delighted with the positive impact that Brief Strategic Family Therapy has had on the Smith family, and so many other kids and families in District Heights.  The dedication and persistence that Priscilla Souto and her staff commit to the success of the CINS program---and indeed to the whole community---is a testament to the indefatigable devotion of Youth Services Center.

Regarding the attached photo: (L-R) Priscilla Souto, Silvia Kaminsky [FTTIM Deputy Director and Master Trainer], Kaisha Barber, and Sara Tuke. Souto included this praise in her statement to FTTIM: "The staff at FTTIM is extremely helpful and has been supportive of my staff and mission of District Heights Family and Youth Services Center.  Our experience with Silvia has been terrific.  She not only is a mentor to the newly certified BSFT clinicians, but also a professional colleague that we admire and trust.  Thank you for the wonderful experience even though we are miles away."