JUVENILE JUSTICE, MENTAL HEALTH, & YOUTH OF COLOR: A FRAMEWORK FOR ACTION IN TEXAS Presented by Southwest Key Programs, Inc.

Provide overview of research and recommendations

Present current infrastructure and pressing problems

Explore SWK youth justice models that are inclusive of families

Workshop Objectives

What do the numbers say?

Research and Recommendations

Obj. 1

Unique Research Study and Report

Published in 2010

By UT School of Social Work & Southwest Key Programs

- First to address mental health issues in the Texas juvenile justice system as they impact youth of color

- Interviewed system involved youth and their families

- 2009 Juvenile Justice, Mental Health and Youth of Color Symposium

Misplaced and Misunderstood

50% to 75% of youth nationwide in juvenile justice system have a mental health disorder

9,000 families relinquished custody of their children to juvenile justice system so their children could access mental health services

40% of African-American youth are placed in the juvenile justice system, while only accounting for 15% of total youth population

The most common pathway

for youth of color

to enter the juvenile justice

system is

through

SCHOOLS

Let’s explore the issues?

Infrastructure and Pressing Problems

Obj. 2

Identification and Assessment

Pathways to the Juvenile Justice System

Contact with the Juvenile Justice System

Treatment and Aftercare

Discussion of Pressing Problems

8

Barrier of Access

Stigma of mental health needs

Lack of awareness and education

Lack cultural diversity and competency of service providers

Lack of integration and coordination of systems

9

A. Increase accessibility of servicesB. Expand engagement effortsC. Develop programs that divert youth from

juvenile justice systemD. Use mental health screenings that are

culturally relevant E. Ensure greater family and consumer

involvement in treatmentF. Increase treatment services for youth

while in custody

Recommendations

10

Increase Accessibility

Establish a infrastructure of culturally competent community-based services

Promote culturally appropriate public education and outreach

Strength the capacity of schools, probation, and child welfare to appropriately identify and address mental health issues

Create awareness that early and repeated exposure to violence correlates with school behavior and mental health problems

Recruit and educate service providers with a diverse and culturally competent staff which can encourage keep families to seek help and remove stigma

Increase Accessibility Expand Engagement Efforts

12

Who’s on the other side of

services?

Divert Youth with Mental Health Symptoms

Deliver adequate care in juvenile justice system Heighten risk for victimization Likely to increase not reduce

issues

Create policies and practices regarding problem behavior that consider mental health concerns

Increase culturally sensitive legal representation for all youth

Screening tools should improved to identify and be validated for: Risk factors Trauma Racial backgrounds Socioeconomic backgrounds Strength factors

People who administer and interpret the assessments should be culturally competent

Develop Programs to Address Needs

Culturally Relevant Screenings

14

How should youth who

have mental health care concerns while in

custody be treated?

Involve the Family and Youth

Encourage family participation

Successful aftercare is more common with family support

Strengthen and expand assessment and treatment services for youth who remain in the system

Coordinate services with other public agencies and community-based providers including aftercare services

Ensure Greater Family Involvement

Increase Treatment Services

16

How do we include

families in treatment plans for youth?

Let’s Hear from Each Other

1.What are your experiences?

2.What have you done or seen that worked well?

3.Where are the gaps?

SWK Youth Justice ModelsObj. 3

Common Program Elements

Immediate response 24/7

Strength-Based Approach

Flexibility to Individualize Treatment Plan

Build Family’s Ability and Capacity to Work as a Team

Community based, culturally relevant, gender- and language-specific services

Limited Use of Out of Home Placement

Data-Driven Programming

Family Keys – Diversion Program22

Family Keys – Status Offender Diversion Program

The Family Keys Program has been accepted as an OJJDP Best Practice Model under Deinstitutionalization of Status Offenders. The goal of this program is to decrease the number of status offender cases that go to court and result in out-of-home placement.

Program components include

Immediate and intensive crisis management

Crisis intervention and stabilization services

Short term intervention services

24 hour access to SWK staff

Family-centered and strength-based service planning

Discharge and aftercare support

Family Keys – Status Offender Diversion

Program

OUTCOMES

98% of  youth remained free of any offense

94% of youth remained in the community

Youth Mentoring Program25

Population – Lower level Adjudicated Youth between the ages of 10-17 years

Length of Service –Twelve (12) month and longer

Intent – Provide youth with a positive role models who can serve as guides and supports thus increasing protective factors and resiliency

Design –

One to one youth mentoring design

Culturally Competent Mentor Recruitment Efforts

Intensive Mentor Training and ongoing monthly support groups

Ongoing Support for Mentors and Mentees

Youth Mentoring Program

Youth Mentoring Program

Goals

Reduce juvenile delinquency, criminal activity, and gang participation

Improve academic performance

Reduce school drop-out rates

Increase Protective Factors and Resiliency

Community Connections28

Designed to enhance communication and build relationships between youth and families.

Family-centered and strengths-based approach to service delivery.

Promotes family self-sufficiency, positive parental control, and law abiding youth behavior.

Community Connections Program

WRAPAROUND APPROACH

Coordination of Youth & Family Support Teams

Transition Planning Services Education Support Clinical Support Services Individual, Group and

Family Counseling Case Management Linkage to Community

Resources Crisis Intervention and

Safety Planning Comprehensive

Assessments Vocational Readiness

Support Discharge Planning

Community Connections Program

COMPONENTS

Community Connections Program

OUTCOMES

In Travis County: 94% of youth completed

program without having an out of home placement

95% were not rearrested for a crime during their enrollment

97% were in attendance at all scheduled court hearings

In Erie County: 93% of youth completed the

services without being placed in an institutional setting.

95% of youth completed the service without having an AWOL petition

97% of clients received immediate intervention services within 24 hours of referral

Specialize Treatment Services32

Population – Adjudicated Youth with an assessed need for Specialized Treatment Services.

Length of Service – 12 weeks to 6 months

Intent – Provide treatment services in the home and community to assess, stabilize and treat youth for identified issues

Design – Designed to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate home and community based treatment services that are client and family centered and strength based.

Approaches utilized – Cognitive Behavioral Treatment, Motivational Interviewing, and Trauma Informed counseling – Provided by licensed clinicians

SPECIALIZED TREATMENT SERVICES

Alcohol & Mental Health Treatment Services

Home & Community Based Services During Non-Traditional Hours

Comprehensive Assessment

Multi-Disciplinary Treatment Approach

Strength Based Service Planning

Crisis Stabilization/Intervention

Curriculum Based Substance Abuse Group/Individual Counseling

Mental Health Individual Counseling

Discharge Planning

SPECIALIZED TREATMENT SERVICES

Alcohol & Mental Health Treatment Services

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

35

Presenters Contact Information

36

Southwest Key Programs, Inc. 6002 Jain Lane

Austin, Texas 78721p. 512-462-2181 f. 512-462-2028