National Youth Screening & Assessment Project

55 Lake Avenue North

University of Massachusetts Law and Psychiatry Program

Worcester, MA 01655

• Phone (508) 856-8732
• http://www.umassmed.edu/NYSAP

The National Youth Screening & Assessment Project (NYSAP) is a technical assistance and research group based at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Its purpose is to promote sound mental health and forensic screening and assessment practices nationwide through the use of new tools such as the Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument — Second Version (MAYSI-2). NYSAP’s goal is to improve services to youth with mental health needs who come into the juvenile justice system.

The MAYSI-2 was developed by Thomas Grisso, Ph.D. and Richard Barnum, M.D., at the University of Massachusetts Medical School during the 1990s with assistance from the William T. Grant Foundation, and was made available in 2000 after sufficient research had been done to establish initial reliability and validity. Technical assistance for use of the MAYSI-2 nationwide since 2000 has been provided by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation’s support of the National Youth Screening Assistance Project (NYSAP) at University of Massachusetts Medical School.

The MAYSI-2 is a paper-and-pencil self-report inventory of 52 questions designed to assist juvenile justice facilities in identifying youths 12 to 17 years old who may have special mental health needs. Youths circle YES or NO concerning whether each item has been true for them "within the past few months." Youths read the items themselves (5th grade reading level) and circle the answers. Administration takes about 10 to 15 minutes and scoring requires approximately 3 minutes. The MAYSI-2 is available in both English and Spanish as well as in software form. The MAYSI-2 software is called MAYSIWARE. For more information about the MAYSI-2 and MAYSIWARE, please view the website: www.MAYSIWARE.com.

The MAYSI-2 is currently used in 49 states—(42 use it system-wide) and 11 foreign countries. The MAYSI-2 has also been translated into 13 different languages by various researchers.

Partners and clients

NYSAP works with personnel at intake probation offices, pretrial detention centers, juvenile court clinical services, intake centers for juvenile correctional facilities, forensic mental health treatment units, diversion programs, after-care services, and youth substance abuse screening programs. The group also works with policymakers on the issue of competence to stand trial.

Strategies and services

NYSAP helps juvenile justice programs develop comprehensive plans for screening and assessment of mental disorders among youth in their custody. In addition to providing continuing MAYSI-2 assistance to juvenile justice programs nationwide, NYSAP has several related roles within the Models for Change initiative. The group will: Provide technical assistance and consultation in developing mental health screenings and assessments at all points of contact in the states’ juvenile justice facilities. a. Translate the results of screening and assessment into improved access to mental health services for youths. b. Provide technical assistance and consultation to help legislatures, juvenile courts, lawyers, and juvenile court clinicians improve policy and practice in the assessment of juveniles’ competence to stand trial.