There has been substantial cause for concern over the increasing numbers of youth in contact with the juvenile justice system who have special needs. The prevalence rate of serious mental health disorders for youth in contact with the juvenile justice is at least 20 percent (Cocozza & Skowyra, 2000). Among youth with serious mental health disorders in contact with the juvenile justice system, an estimated 50 to 75 percent have serious substance abuse problems and other service needs (Davis, Bean, Schumacher, & String, 1992; Otto, 1992; Timmons-Mitchell et al., 1997). The reasons why juvenile justice systems have placed priority on identifying and responding to the special needs of youth in their care include

•  Ethical, legal, and governmental responsibilities require that agencies meet the medical and mental health needs of incarcerated youth.
  
  
• Special needs that are not addressed may serve as contributing factors to on-going delinquency.
  
  
• A significantly high proportion of youth who enter juvenile justice facilities have mental health, substance abuse, and other specialized health concerns.

     The presentation provides a guide to assessing juvenile mental health, combining theory with practice. As the number of incarcerated juveniles with mental health issues grows, so too must our assessment practices of these youths. Participants will be provided with key information on clinical issues concerning screening and assessing youths in the juvenile justice system; the purpose and definition of screening and assessment; the importance of risk and needs assessment; methods of assessment within the context of cultural competency; and criterion to consider when selecting placement.

PRESENTATIONS:

Ray, K. P. & Underwood, L. (2002, October). Combining theory and practice: A guide to assessing juvenile mental health. To be presented at the 26th Annual National Conference on Correctional Health Care, Nashville, Tennessee.

Bourque, D. K., Boyd, P. (November, 2001). Development of a juvenile assessment center. Presented at the 25th National Conference on Correctional Health Care in Albuquerque, New Mexico. (Ray, K. P. presented in place of Bourque, D. K.)