Innovation Brief: Mental Health Screening as a Valuable Tool for Truancy Intervention
Published Dec 8, 2014, Center for Children & Youth Justice
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The Clark County Truancy Project (CCTP) was designed to effectively respond to truancy while reducing the need for formal court intervention. Research indicates that one of the most prevalent issues confronting youth who are truant is mental health. Earlier identification of mental health needs would allow for earlier and targeted interventions. Although CCTP’s truancy specialists frequently identified mental health needs as contributing to truant behavior, CCTP lacked an effective screening tool to assist in the up-front identification of these needs. Working closely with National Resource Bank members, CCTP incorporated the administration of the Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument, Second Version (MAYSI-2) into their intake process.
