By: Dr. Cheri Shapiro, Director

Thank you to all who attended the Palmetto Coordinated System of Care Conference here in Columbia, SC last week!  A shout out goes to Joan Amado, Center Coordinator, as well as Gwynne Goodlett and Janice Bailiff of SC Department of Health and Human Services for organizing the conference.

On the first day, we heard from representatives from a number of evidence-based approaches, including our keynote, Dr. Bruce Chorpita, on MAP (Managing and Adapting Practice), Dr. Heather Smith Googe on the Pyramid Model, Dr. Melissa Swartz on the Triple P-Positive Parenting Program, Dr. Benjamin Saunders on TFCBT, Ms. Jennifer Smith Ramey on ACRA, and Dr. Joseph Boggs on MST.

The saying, “it takes a village,” is especially true when it comes to evidence-based approaches to supporting children, youth, and families. We need a variety of supports and interventions to select from.  One size never fits all, despite what a label might say!  However, as was evident in the presentation by Dr. Chorpita, there are diminishing returns in the number of youth served as the number of evidence-based approaches grows.  Thus, careful selection of strategies is needed to obtain an optimal balance.

With regard to the MAP system of intervention, South Carolina is now home to 44 individuals who have undergone MAP Therapist training through the Center of Excellence.  This modular approach to treatment, discussed in earlier posts, is reaching families through the hard work of the providers who dedicated the time to attend the training and who are now mastering the use if the intervention.

Stay tuned for future updates!