Focal Point

Spring 1997 Issue: "Families, Juvenile Justice, and Children's Mental Health"

The complete issue or single articles from this issue are available for downloading in PDF format. To view PDF files you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed, available as a free download from Adobe.

Focal Point: A National Bulletin on Family Support and Children's Mental Health: Families, Juvenile Justice and Children's Mental Health, 11(1), Spring 1997. (ENTIRE ISSUE)
McManus, M. C. (Ed.) Download PDF

Responding to the mental health needs of youth in the juvenile justice system.
Rottenberg, S.

The nation has ignored the prevalence of mental disorders among youth who commit crimes, and it has failed to provide policy directives on how state systems should respond; with the nation's attention riveted on youth violence, the issue of prevalence has began to emerge, this author argues. This article explores the ways in which youth are treated and offers priorities for the provision of mental health services for children in the juvenile justice system. Download PDF

Prevalance of mental disorders among youth in the juvenile justice system.
Edens, J.F. & Otto, R.K.

Despite the limitations of existing research on the prevalence of mental disorders in the juvenile justice system, this article offers some tentative estimates for specific diagnostic categories, as well as issues such as a history of child abuse, suicidal behavior, and prior mental health treatment. The article also offers some general conclusions on this data. Download PDF

The trouble with delinquent girls..
Belknap, J. & Holsinger, K.

This author argues that juvenile justice service providers treat girls inequitably. This article explores the reasons for girls' entry into the juvenile justice system, treatment in the system and possible outcomes for their futures. Download PDF

Overrepresentation of youth of color in the juvenile justice system: Culturally competent service system strategies.
Benjamin, M.P.

It is widely acknowledged by professionals and advocates in the service delivery system that youth of color become involved with the juvenile justice system at rates far exceeding their proportion in the population. This article explores the five elements of a culturally competent system of care, which are also seen as strategies for addressing issues of overrepresentation of youth in the juvenile justice system. Download PDF

Parents at the front door in family court and child welfare: Developing parent supports in the juvenile justice system.
Lichtenwalter, C., Bolerjack, M. & Edwards, J.A.

This article explores Stark County, Ohio's collaborative effort to work with professionals from Family Court, Mental Health, Human Services, other systems and agencies, and parents. The plan helps better coordinate all of the human services and develop the support services that families need when involved with the juvenile justice system. Download PDF

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention: A federal partner in meeting the mental health needs of juvenile offenders.
Bilchik, S.

Supporting a changing and challenging climate and creating the opportunity to address the needs of children and youth is a key priority of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), U.S. Department of Justice. This article examines the challenges faced by OJJDP, as well as the comprehensive strategies they use to meet the needs of juvenile offenders with mental health needs. Download PDF

Youth with disabilities in the justice system: Integrating disability specific approaches.
Garfinkel, L.

Parents, juvenile justice professionals, policymakers and youth advocates struggle with the challenge of determining which consequences are most effective in preventing crime and recidivism among our youth. This author explores some of the reasons for youthful criminal behavior, as well as the need for effective, disability specific approaches when choosing appropriate settings and determining consequences for juvenile offenders with disabilities. Download PDF

Multisystemic therapy: An effective community-based alternative to incarceration.
Henggeler, S.W.

This article describes the reasons why traditional mental health and juvenile justice services do not work, and presents MST, “multisystemic therapy”, an intensive home and family-based treatment for serious antisocial behavior in adolescents and their families and its success. Download PDF

"Intensive Aftercare" in juvenile corrections: The Colorado experience.
Bennett, D.B.

Colorado's Division of Youth Corrections is sponsoring a site for experimental implementation of the Intensive Aftercare Program, funded by the federal Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). This article explores the Intensive Aftercare Program, and finds early observations of the program are encouraging. Download PDF

Bethesda Family Services Foundation "committed to healing America's families."
Herbst, D.

This article explores the Bethesda Day Treatment Center and its parent organization the Bethesda Family Services Foundation with programs in Florida, Oklahoma, Maryland, Texas, Arizona and Michigan. This program offers powerful and effective strategies for a comprehensive systems approach developed by Bethesda to transform the lives of troubled youth. Download PDF

The Virginia Intensive Parole Program.
Boykin, V.

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) funded research and development of the intensive aftercare program model in direct response to growing concerns nationally about the high rate of recidivism, overcrowding in secure juvenile facilities, the spiraling cost of confinement, and lack of resources for aftercare services. This article explores Virginia's experience with the development of an IAP for high-risk juvenile offenders. Download PDF

Social Security Administration issues new rules for children's SSI program.
Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law

The Social Security Administration (SSA) released new interim final regulations for the children's Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. This article examines the new rules (printed in the Federal Register on February 11, 1997), which were required by the new welfare law signed by President Clinton on August 22, 1996, and became effective immediately. Download PDF

Top

2008 Research and Training Center on Family Support and Children’s Mental Health, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon.

Untitled Document