Multi-Agency School Support Team (MASST)

Program snapshot

Age group: Early childhood (0-6); Late childhood (7-11)

Gender: Mixed (male and female)

Population served: Youth in contact with law enforcement (and/or at risk)

Topic: Social development

Setting: Urban area; Community-based setting; School-based; Social services setting

Location: Alberta

Number of completed Canadian outcome evaluation studies: 0

Continuum of intervention: Secondary crime prevention

Brief Description

The Multi-Agency School Support Team (MASST) is an early intervention initiative that supports children who are exhibiting behaviour that puts them at risk for increased or ongoing criminal involvement or increased risk for victimization.

The MASST program is centered on community mobilization; community supervision and aftercare; conflict resolution; leadership and youth development; and skills training.

Goals

The main goal of the MASST program is to:

  •  Intervene and provide positive social supports for at-risk youth.

Clientele

The appropriate clientele for the MASST program are youth between the ages of 5 and 12 who are at risk of engaging in criminal activity and/or at risk of victimization. Participants are referred to the program through their respective school boards.

Core Components

The core components of the MASST program include the following:

  •  Individual assessments: In consultation with the family, the respective school, and the stakeholders involved, an agreement is made on a suitable approach to address the youth’s identified needs and risks. The individualized approach allows for targeted interventions relevant to the needs of the child, and the inclusion of the wider family enhances the likelihood that desired changes will be achieved and maintained.

Implementation Information

Some of the critical elements for the implementation of this program or initiative include the following:

  • Organizational requirements: The lead organization must include the youth’s family when implementing the MASST program in order to ensure that at-risk youth are able to achieve their desired goals and build prosocial support networks.
  • Partnerships: Organizations should collaborate with schools and school boards, police services, and other community-based organizations.
  • Training and technical assistance: Limited information on this topic.
  • Risk assessment tools: Limited information on this topic.
  • Materials & resources: Limited information on this topic.

International Endorsements

The most recognized classification systems of evidence-based crime prevention programs have classified this program or initiative as follows:

  • Blueprints for Healthy Youth Development: Not applicable.
  • Crime Solutions/OJJDP Model Program Guide: Not applicable.
  • SAMHSA's National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices: Not applicable.
  • Coalition for Evidence-Based Policy: Not applicable.

Gathering Canadian Knowledge

Canadian Implementation Sites

The MASST program has been implemented in Calgary, Alberta (2010-2012) by the Calgary Board of Education, the Calgary Catholic School District, the Calgary Police Service, and the City of Calgary’s Community and Neighbourhood Services. The MASST program was a recipient of the Safe Communities Innovation Fund (SCIF), Government of Alberta.

Main Findings from Canadian Outcome Evaluation Studies

No information available.

Cost Information

A social return on investment (SROI) has been conducted on the MASST program. The findings from this study have shown the following:

  • The total value of investing in the MASST was calculated to be $3,342,244 (CAD), with a total annual investment of $1,470,000 (CAD). This means that there was an average return of $2.28 (CAD) for every dollar invested in the program after three years.

For more information, refer to the Alberta Community Crime Prevention Organizations’ (2015) publication.

References

Alberta Community Crime Prevention Organizations. (2015). Social Return on Investment (SROI) Case Study: Multi-Agency School Support Team (MASST). Recipient of Safe Communities Innovation Fund, Government of Alberta. Available from: https://open.alberta.ca/publications/safe-communities-innovation-fund-pilot-project-executive-summaries

For more information on this program, contact:

Calgary Police Service
Community & Youth Services Section
Telephone: (403) 428-8399
E-mail: masst@calgarypolice.ca
Website: http://www.calgary.ca


Record Entry Date - 2018-02-27
Record Updated On - 2021-04-29
Date modified: