Program Description

The Prime Time Project, King County, Washington State

Overview

The Prime Time Project, which is based out of the King County Department of Youth Services and a community mental health clinic, serves high-risk youth with mental illness who are repeatedly involved with the juvenile justice system. It is a comprehensive intervention model for youth between the ages of 12 and 17 who are in detention, who have at least two prior admissions to detention, who are in detention for a relatively serious offense, and who have a diagnosable mental health disorder.

The program aims to decrease delinquent behavior (recidivism and severity of offense), increase pro-social behavior (attendance, performance, and behavior at school; work; peer and community involvement), and stabilize psychiatric symptoms. Youth are identified and referred to the program while in detention. Referrals come from judges, detention staff, probation counselors, family members, and health clinic staff. Services begin in detention and follow youth as they return to the community, with interventions taking place over a year-long period with the intensity of services tapering over the course of treatment. Based largely on Multi-Systemic Therapy (MST), the Prime Time Intervention emphasizes skill building and behavior changes in the youth’s natural environment. In addition to MST the program has integrated components of Dialectic Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET) to enhance family and youth skills in self regulation and reduce dependence on drugs and alcohol. The intervention seeks to facilitate the transition from a delinquent life style with limited support to a pro-social lifestyle with a solid base of family and community empowerment.

Key features of the Prime Time Intervention include:

• Close collaboration with the juvenile justice system;
•  All services delivered in the community;
• Services are comprehensive, evidence based mental health treatment, substance abuse treatment, competency enhancement, and community support;
• Services are based on an assessment of the strengths and needs of each youth and family;
• Assertive case management is provided by experienced, cross-trained (mental health, substance abuse, and juvenile justice) therapists and case managers; a staff psychiatrist and psychologist are integral members of the treatment team and provide services to the family and youth in the community.
• Diverse staff, sensitive to the needs of ethnic minority youth, provide culturally relevant services;
• Services are coordinated across multiple systems, including juvenile justice, education, mental health, child welfare, and public health.

Program Contact

Eric W. Trupin, Ph. D
Professor & Vice Chair
University of Washington School of Medicine
Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
Director, Division of Public Behavioral Health & Justice Policy
146 N. Canal Street, Suite 100
Seattle, WA 98103
Phone: 206-685-2085
Fax: 206-685-3430