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Mental/behavioral health

Research and tools related to meeting the mental health needs of youth without unnecessary juvenile justice system involvement.

Read the strategic innovations of the Mental Health and Juvenile Justice Action Network. 

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All Mental/behavioral health publications

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Publication cover Adolescent Domestic Battery Typology Tool Manual
Dec 8, 2015, Wendy Nussbaum, M.A., LCPC, Stuart M. Berry, M.S.W., LISW, Shannon Hartnett, M.A., Gina M. Vincent, Ph.D.
There has been an increase in the number of youth referred to the juvenile justice system for charges related to abusing their parents. The Adolescent Domestic Battery Typologies Tool (ADBTT) was…
Publication cover Caring for Youth with Mental Health Needs in the Juvenile Justice System: Improving Knowledge and Skills
May 7, 2015, Fred Meservey, LMSW and Kathleen R. Skowyra, NCMHJJ/Collaborative for Change
Approximately two-thirds of youth in the care of the juvenile justice system have a diagnosable mental health and/or substance use disorder. Too frequently, staff supervising these youth have…
Publication cover Mental Health Screening in Juvenile Justice Services
May 5, 2015, Andrew Wachter, Research Associate, NCJJ
This StateScan publication is the 4th in a series that distills important knowledge from NCJJ’s new Juvenile Justice Geography, Policy, Practice and Statistics website. The author, Andrew…
Publication cover Diverting Youth at Probation Intake: The Front-End Diversion Initiative
Apr 8, 2015, Erin Espinosa, Ph.D., Kathleen R. Skowyra
This Research and Program Brief describes the Front End Diversion Initiative, which is a probation-intake based diversion program for youth with specific mental health conditions that grew out of the…
Publication cover Council of Juvenile Correctional Administrators Toolkit: Reducing the Use of Isolation
Mar 30, 2015, Council of Juvenile Correctional Administrators
A response to behavioral problems in many facilities has been reliance on isolation for acting out youths who are mentally challenged, chronically violent, or gang involved. Instead of being used as…
Publication cover Innovation Brief: Mental Health Screening as a Valuable Tool for Truancy Intervention
Dec 8, 2014, Center for Children & Youth Justice
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…
Publication cover Advancing Juvenile Justice: Recommendations in Three Key Areas
Dec 8, 2014, Mental Health and Juvenile Justice Collaborative for Change, Robert F. Kennedy National Resource Center for Juvenile Justice, Status Offense Reform Center
As OJJDP considers how best to carry out its mission, three core issues stand out for their intense need, their proven potential for reform, and the opportunities they offer OJJDP to lead significant…
Publication cover Supporting JJ-Involved Youth Experiencing Behavioral Health Disorders
Dec 8, 2014, LSUHSC Institute for Public Health and Justice
Presentation
Publication cover Time for a Check-Up: How Advocates Can Help Youth in the Juvenile Justice System Get the Mental Health Services They Need
Dec 8, 2014, National Juvenile Justice Network
NJJN's policy update summarizes the major changes on the horizon for the provision of mental health services for youth in the juvenile justice system and provides recommendations to help advocates…
Publication cover Crisis Intervention Teams - Youth: A Law Enforcement Diversion Project
Dec 8, 2014, LSUHSC Institute for Public Health and Justice
Presentation
Publication cover Washington State Mental Health Diversion Guidebook
Dec 1, 2014, University of Washington and the Center for Children & Youth Justice
This guidebook presents a number of policies and programs occurring within Washington State that are bridging services between the judicial system and the community to serve youth with mental health…
Publication cover Innovation Brief: Schools Turn to Treatment, Not Punishment, for Children with Mental Health Needs
Dec 12, 2013, Giudi Weiss, Kathleen Skowyra
In 2008, the new Mental Health/Juvenile Justice Action Network selected “early diversion” as its first area of focus. Its goal was to create opportunities for youth with mental health…
Publication cover Improving Diversion Policies and Programs for Justice-Involved Youth with Co-occurring Mental and Substance Use Disorders
Dec 8, 2013, National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice, Technical Assistance Collaborative, Inc.
Summary of the MacArthur Foundation and SAMHSA collaboration to increase the number of youth with behavioral health disorders diverted out of the juvenile justice system to appropriate…
Publication cover Juvenile Competency Procedures
Dec 8, 2013, National Center for Juvenile Justice
This 4-page brief summarizes state statutes concerning juvenile competency to stand trial and supports a topic profiled on the Juvenile Justice Geography, Policy, Practice and Statistics website…
Publication cover Guide to Developing and Revising Suicide Prevention Protocols for Youth in Contact with the Juvenile Justice System
Dec 1, 2013, National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention
Publication cover National Context: Principles of Model Screening, Assessment, and Service Delivery (brief)
Dec 1, 2013, LSU Institute for Public Health and Justice
Publication cover Preventing Juvenile Suicide through Improved Collaboration: Strategies for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice Agencies - Full Report
Dec 1, 2013, National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention
Publication cover Preventing Suicide: Working with Youth Who Are Justice Involved - Executive Summary
Dec 1, 2013, National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention
Publication cover Preventing Suicide: Working with Youth Who Are Justice Involved - Full Report
Dec 1, 2013, National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention
Publication cover Screening and Assessment for Suicide Prevention: Tools and Procedures for Risk Identification Among Juvenile Justice Youth
Dec 1, 2013, National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention
Publication cover Screening and Assessment in Louisiana's Juvenile Justice System (summary)
Dec 1, 2013, Louisiana State University Institute for Public Health and Justice
Publication cover Suicidal Ideation and Behavior Among Youth in the Juvenile Justice System: A Review of the Literature
Dec 1, 2013, National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention
Publication cover Providing and Receiving Technical Assistance
Dec 1, 2013, Center for Children's Law and Policy; National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice; D. Alan Henry
Provides a brief overview of key aspects of technical assistance; Describes the distinctive approaches used to offer technical assistance through the Models for Change initiative; Discusses the…
Publication cover Improving Outcomes for Children in Schools
Dec 1, 2013, Child Health and Development Institute of Connecticut
Over the last several years, Connecticut has established one of the country’s most extensive arrays of children's mental health evidence-based practices delivered in home and community…
Publication cover Juvenile Justice GPS StateScan: Juvenile Competency Procedures
Dec 1, 2013, National Center for Juvenile Justice
Publication cover Evidence-Based Practices with Latino Youth: A Literature Review
Nov 25, 2013, Elizabeth Feldman, Ph.D. Eric Trupin, Ph.D. Sarah Walker, Ph.D. Jacquelyn Hansen, MPH
This review will outline some of the most pressing mental health concerns for Latino immigrants and highlight what is currently known about how best to respond to these concerns. Discussion will…
Publication cover Screening and Assessment in Juvenile Justice Systems: Identifying Mental Health Needs and Risk of Reoffending
Dec 1, 2012, National Youth Screening and Assessment Project
Publication cover Innovation Brief: Juvenile Justice and Mental Health: A Collaborative Approach
Nov 30, 2012, Barbara Chayt, Council of Juvenile Correctional Administrators
No single agency can solve the mental health/juvenile justice crisis. It demands a collaborative model. Three Pennsylvania counties—Allegheny, Chester, and Erie—and a state-level team…
Publication cover Innovation Brief: Mental Health Needs and Due Process Rights: Finding the Balance
Nov 30, 2012, Autumn Dickman, Juvenile Law Center
Models for Change sites have launched a variety of initiatives to identify and treat justice involved youths with mental health and substance abuse problems. They include screening and assessment…
Publication cover Competency to Stand Trial in Juvenile Court: Recommendations for Policymakers
Nov 1, 2012, National Juvenile Justice Network (NJJN)
How do courts determine when a youth is competent to stand trial? What do they do if a youth is found "incompetent" for court proceedings? Most states lack statutory guidance to answer these…
Publication cover Chester County Pennsylvania Intake Diversion Program Final Report
Oct 31, 2012, Andrew Wachter, Teri Deal, Mary Gaspari, Valerie Williams, Rebecca Nelson
In 2009, with support from Models for Change, Chester County, Pennsylvania developed an Intake Diversion Program. Through collaboration with experts in the field of juvenile justice including the…
Publication cover Family Involvement Resource Inventory: An overview of resources for family, youth and staff
Sep 5, 2012, National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice
This Family Resources Inventory was compiled to assist the Mental Health/Juvenile Justice Action Network States in the identification of publications and resources that address the barriers families…
Publication cover Developing Statutes for Competence to Stand Trial in Juvenile Delinquency Proceedings: A Guide for Lawmakers
Apr 2, 2012, Kimberly Larson, Ph.D., J.D.; Thomas Grisso, Ph.D.; National Youth Screening & Assessment Project
The purpose of this guide is to assist states in developing legislation that will provide clear assistance for juvenile courts when applying competence to stand trial to juvenile court proceedings.…
Publication cover Screening and Assessment in Juvenile Justice Systems: Identifying Mental Health Needs and Risk of Reoffending
Jan 18, 2012, Gina M. Vincent, Ph.D. Associate Professor Co-Director, National Youth Screening & Assessment Project
Each year, more than 2 million children, youth, and young adults formally come into contact with the juvenile justice system, while millions more are at risk of involvement with the system for myriad…
Publication cover Knowledge Brief: Mental Health Services in Juvenile Justice: Who pays? What gets paid for? And who gets to decide?
Dec 1, 2011, Models for Change Research Initiative
Providing effective mental health services for youths in the juvenile justice system raisescomplex policy questions, including: Who pays? What services get paid for? And who getsto decide? The…
Publication cover Responder Program Development Manual (Summit County, Ohio)
May 6, 2011, Judge Linda Tucci Teodosi, William P. Kannel
This Responder Program Manual was developed out of the work that Ohio has been undertaking as part of their work in the Mental Health/Juvenile Justice Action Network. It is meant to serve as a guide…
Publication cover School-Based Diversion: Strategic Innovations from the Mental Health/Juvenile Justice Action Network
Apr 1, 2011, National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice
This report provides a detailed update and summary on the work of the MH/JJ Action Network's School-Based Diversion Strategic Innovation Group. The four participating states (Connecticut, Illinois,…
Publication cover Workforce Development: Strategic Innovations from the Mental Health/Juvenile Justice Action Network
Apr 1, 2011, National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice
This report provides a detailed update and summary on the work of the MH/JJ Action Network's Workforce Development Strategic Innovation Group. Recognizing the need for comprehensive mental health…
Publication cover Law Enforcement-Based Diversion: Strategic Innovations from the Mental Health/Juvenile Justice Action Network
Apr 1, 2011, National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice
This report provides a detailed update and summary on the work of the MH/JJ Action Network's Law Enforcement-based Diversion Strategic Innovation Group. While standard Crisis Intervention Team…
Publication cover Intake Based Diversion: Strategic Innovations from the Mental Health/Juvenile Justice Action Network
Apr 1, 2011, The National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice
This report provides a detailed update and summary on the work of the MH/JJ Action Network's intake-based diversion strategic innovation group. The intention of the Action Network's Front-End…
Publication cover Training Module--Mental Health Screening with the MAYSI-2 for Juvenile Probation Power Point Slides
Feb 8, 2011, Valerie Williams, Samantha Fusco
The purpose of this powerpoint is to train staff in probation on the background, history, administration, and use of the Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument-2. This powerpoint can be used for…
Publication cover Report on the Behavioral Health Program for Youth Committed to Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice
Jul 29, 2010, Illinois Models for Change Behavioral Health Assessment Team
In response to a request for technical assistance from the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), the Illinois Models for Change initiative assembled a team of mental health and corrections…
Publication cover Healing Invisible Wounds: Why Investing in Trauma-Informed Care for Children Makes Sense
Jul 7, 2010, Justice Policy Institute
Any number of factors can contribute to a person becoming involved in the criminal justice system, including a history of trauma or victimization. Over 93,000 children are currently locked up in…
Publication cover Mental Health Issues in California’s Juvenile Justice System
May 26, 2010, Berkeley Center for Criminal Justice
Young delinquents diagnosed with mental illness have been incarcerated at steadily higher rates in California's juvenile justice system for nearly a decade. Yet these young offenders rarely receive…
Publication cover Clark County Truancy Program: Mental Health Screening Protocols - Administering MAYSI 2
Nov 11, 2009, Jodi Martin
Protocol incorporating MAYSI-2 screening into the Clark County Truancy Program intake procedure.
Publication cover Advances and Innovations Emerging from the Mental Health/Juvenile Justice Action Network: 2009 Update
Nov 1, 2009, National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice
Offers a brief update on the Mental Health/Juvenile Justice Action Network’s strategic innovation group (SIG) projects. Through the SIG process, the Network developed and piloted front-end…
Publication cover 10 Steps for Implementing Mental Health Screening
Oct 9, 2009, Thomas Grisso
The document provides 10 essential considerations for juvenile justice agencies planning mental health screening to support programs and placements.
Publication cover School-Based Diversion Questionnaire
Sep 25, 2009, National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice
To collect process/implementation data on the school-based diversion program being implemented by the MH/JJ Action Network states.
Publication cover Probation Diversion Questionnaire
Sep 25, 2009, National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice
To collect process/implementation data on the probation-based diversion program being implemented in Texas.
Publication cover Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument --Version 2 Training Video Instructions
Sep 14, 2009, Shannon M. Maney
This document provides a summary of the MAYSI-2 Training Video and instructions for obtaining the video.
Publication cover Louisiana Treatment Provider Survey Sample Results Report
Sep 11, 2009, Stephen W. Phillippi
As a first step for the Evidence-based Community Services TAI, a survey was developed to assess the current state of affairs within Louisiana counties with respect to a) the extent and methods of…
Publication cover Guidelines of Instructing Youth Prior to Administration of a Mental Health Screening Tool
Aug 18, 2009, Valerie Williams, Thomas Grisso
This document was created to assist juvenile justice personnel when introducing youth to a mental health screening tool as part of an intake process.
Publication cover A Template for Written Reports of Pre-Disposition Psychological Evaluations
Aug 17, 2009, Perry Hill, Laura Goodwin, Thomas Grisso
This document is a model outline for psychologists or psychiatrists to report the results of their evaluations of youth in delinquency cases involving assessment questions of disposition after…
Publication cover A Template for Profiling Detention Centers Regarding Mental Health Services
Aug 17, 2009, Valerie Williams, Thomas Grisso
This document was created for use as a survey tool. The information gathered provides a description of a detention center's daily operations, programs, and use of mental health services, including…
Publication cover Evidence-Based Practice Recommendations for Juvenile Drug Courts
Jul 1, 2009, Holly Hills, Ph.D., Jennie L. Shufelt, M.S., Joseph J. Cocozza, Ph.D.
This guide provides a series of recommendations for juvenile drug courts along three critical areas—screening and assessment (Chapter 2), treatment (Chapter 3), and outcome monitoring (Chapter…
Publication cover Connecticut School Based Diversion Initiative Manual
May 29, 2009, Vicki Spriggs
This manual summarizes the major activities of the Connecticut School-Based Diversion Initiative (SBDI) and is intended to aid communities in developing their own school-based diversion programs with…
Publication cover Pennsylvania Progress: Addressing the Behavioral Health Needs of Court-Involved Youth
Aug 1, 2008, Susanna Zawacki, Patricia Torbet, and Patrick Griffin, National Center for Juvenile Justice
This issue of Pennsylvania Progress focuses on efforts to create a comprehensive model for addressing the needs of youth with behavioral health disorders in the juvenile justice system. Pennsylvania…
Publication cover Improving Access to Health Coverage for Transitional Youth
Jul 1, 2008, National Academy for State Health Policy, Sonya Schwartz, Melanie Glascock
Offers a detailed examination of ways to improve states’ ability to keep foster care and juvenile justice youth enrolled in Medicaid and SCHIP. The report focuses on the areas of simplifying…
Publication cover Overview of The Models for Change Mental Health/Juvenile Justice Action Network
Apr 8, 2008, Models for Change Mental Health/Juvenile Justice Action Network
Provides information on the startup, organization and strategies of the iniative's Mental Health/Juvenile Justice Action Network including background on the issue of mental health in juvenile justice.
Publication cover Mental Health Needs of Juvenile Offenders
Jun 21, 2007, National Conference of State Legislatures
Describes disorders, issues and strategies for addressing the mental health needs of youth in the juvenile justice system: as many as 70 percent of youth in the system are affected with a mental…
Publication cover Improving and Coordinating Access to Mental Health Services for Youth in Pennsylvania's Juvenile Justice System
Apr 10, 2007, Models for Change
Outlines approaches and opportunities for the juvenile justice and mental health systems to better respond to the needs of the large number (over 70%) of youth with mental health needs who come into…
Publication cover Lessons Learned: Facilitating Mental Health Screening in Juvenile Justice Programs
Oct 1, 2006, Valerie Williams, M.A., M.S. and Thomas Grisso, Ph.D.
Recent evidence suggests that the prevalence of mental disorders among youths in the juvenile justice system is two to three times higher than youths in the general population. Screening upon entry…
Publication cover Joint Policy Statement on Mental Health/Juvenile Justice: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Aug 31, 2006, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Joint statement by The Mental Health/Juvenile Justice (MH/JJ) Work Group (comprised of representatives from the juvenile justice, mental health, child welfare, drug and alcohol, and education systems…
Publication cover Blueprint for Change: A Comprehensive Model for the Identification and Treatment of Youth with Mental Health Needs in Contact with the Juvenile Justice Network
Dec 31, 2005, The National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice, Kathleen R. Skowyra; Joseph J. Cocozza, Ph.D.
Presents a comprehensive model for providing a broad range of mental health services to youth in contact with the juvenile justice system with recommended actions and over 30 detailed suggestions.…
Publication cover Keystones for Reform: Promising Juvenile Justice Policies and Practices in Pennsylvania
Oct 12, 2005, Youth Law Center, Neelum Aryna, Eric Lotke, Liz Ryan, Marc Schindler, Dana Shoenberg, Mark Soler
The first state report for the Models for Change initiative, this report describes promising juvenile justice policies and practices in Pennsylvania that provide a solid base for further reform…
Publication cover Developing Mental Health Screening in Juvenile Justice
Dec 1, 2004, Gina Vincent, Ph.D. and Thomas Grisso, Ph.D.
The first step toward managing the mental health needs of juveniles is to be able to identify them. Mental health screening is crucial for identifying mental conditions in need of immediate response,…
Supported by

Models for Change was a juvenile justice systems reform initiative supported by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, website operated by Justice Policy Institute.

MacArthur