Leveraging Technology to Increase Behavioral Health Services Access for Youth in the Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare Systems: a Cross-systems Collaboration Model

Abstract

Behavioral health services access for justice- and child welfare-involved youth is limited despite significant need. Structural interventions to address limited access are nascent. Technology can advance access, but few interventions focus on system-impacted youth and their mental health needs and challenges. This article describes the development, process, and initial outcomes of the Youth Justice and Family Well-Being Technology Collaborative (JTC) that was formed to leverage technology within and across public health and justice-related systems to promote increased behavioral health services access. Cross-system considerations are identified for public health, court, and other key stakeholders to successfully integrate technology into practice to expand access to these critical services.

Association between Demographic Profile and Mental Health Needs of Children in Statutory Institutions of Care and Protection in Nairobi County, Kenya

“…United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) (2019) estimates that over 1 billion children worldwide experience abuse annually. It is widely acknowledged that these children have experienced psychological, emotional and social challenges (Hovey et al, 2017;Tolou-Shams et al, 2022). In the United States of America as at June 2022, there were approximately 391,098 children and youth in need of care and protection placed within the foster care system (US department of Human Services (2023).…”

A Serious Response to Youth Mental Health and Substance Use

“…8 devoted to public health in juvenile justice. It delves into such critical issues as using technology to increase access to behavioral health services for youth in juvenile justice and child welfare systems, 9 the effectiveness of juvenile drug treatment courts, 10 and the influence of childhood sexual assault on the stability of depressive symptoms among repeat juvenile offenders. 11 It could be your kid.…”