Maureen Kishna, MSSA, LISW-S

MST Network Partner Director for Ohio
Center for Innovative Practices
Begun Center for Violence Prevention Research and Education
Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences

Maureen has worked since 2000 within the Multisystemic Therapy Program (MST).  She has been a therapist, supervisor, consultant, and program developer in this model. Additionally, Maureen is a certified cognitive therapist and school social worker. Prior to MST, Maureen worked in a wide array of settings locally and internationally including in a residential treatment center, community youth centers, a family planning clinic, schools, and in a community-based respite program for adolescent boys with severe emotional and behavioral challenges.

In addition to supporting her work with MST and the agency staff, Maureen works diligently to inform the public about MST and its benefits to the family and community. 

Q: Why is your work at the Begun Center important to you, to our community, and to the world? The work that I do is extremely meaningful, because I support clinicians and supervisors at mental health agencies around the state in bringing the highest quality evidence based practice into the homes and lives of families and youth most in need. I also love the collaborative partnerships we have with key stakeholders at juvenile courts and mental health boards in the communities our teams serve. Its extremely rewarding to hear about the youth we work with turning their young lives around. Probably every week during our clinical consultations at least one success story brings tears of joy to my eyes. I am so proud of our clinicians, our agencies, our courts, our schools, our youth, and our state Departments of Youth Services and Mental Health and Addiction Services for the work we are all doing to invest in the young people of our state.

Q: What is a cause about which you are particularly passionate? I am very passionate about violence prevention, evidence based practices and ensuring youth and families have access to the highest quality services. I am passionate about social justice and defending the rights of those who are not able to effectively speak and stand up for themselves. I am also very passionate about our care for the earth.