CJCA and Policy Research Associates (PRA) co-founded the National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice (NCMHJJ), which in 2003 established the Comprehensive Systems Change Initiative (CSCI). By integrating research, data, experience and practice, CSCI has helped in the development of a model continuum of mental health services for juvenile justice youths, as well as to synthesize and expand the knowledge base about the nature and prevalence of mental health and co-occurring substance use disorders among youths in contact with the juvenile justice system. CJCA leads the implementation of CSCI in Connecticut, Georgia and Pima County, Arizona and in Pennsylvania as part of the MacArthur Foundation’s Models for Change juvenile justice systems reform initiative.
CSCI Goals:
To work closely with selected jurisdictions to develop cross-system, multi-agency collaboration to better serve youths with mental health problems.
To develop, study and disseminate effective whole system approaches to better identify youths with mental health problems and improve treatment and services for those youths.
CSCI Activities:
- CSCI brings multiple agencies together with the common goal of creating and/or improving a comprehensive system to provide mental health services to youths in contact with the juvenile justice system.
- CSCI offers a general blueprint for building a coordinated system of mental health services for juvenile justice youths:
- Identify the youths in need of mental health services at all points of contact with the system through screening and assessment;
- Divert those identified as needing mental health services from juvenile justice;
- Build a continuum of mental health services in the community for the youths that complements and coordinates with the juvenile justice system. Do not build two parallel systems.
Click here to learn more about NCMHJJ.
Click here to learn more about CJCA’s involvement with the Models for Change initiative.