Research consistently points to the high prevalence of co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders among justice involved youth. Since the overlap of emotional disorders, substance use, delinquent behaviors, family dysfunction, and poor academic performance is prominent, the need to carefully screen and assess for the child’s issues is critical. Screening and assessment tools, therefore, must be designed and administered in a developmentally appropriate manner to solicit information relevant to juveniles.

Currently, multiple assessments are administered at various points as an arrested child moves through the juvenile justice system.  There are inconsistencies in training and levels of expertise among the different providers of assessments. With this component, extensive attention has been focused on training and the development of PAD screening and assessment staff by national researchers and the authors of the assessment instruments.

The ultimate goal of this component is to establish the platform to develop a standardized Screening and Assessment expertise that would be recognized by all community partners as the starting point of decision-making and service delivery for a juvenile entering the juvenile justice system.  This would accomplish:

1. Standardization in Screening and Assessment
2. Established Expertise in Use of Multiple Instruments 
3. Expertise in the Administration of Instruments in Developmentally and Culturally Appropriate Manner 
4. Expertise in the Interpretation of Assessment Instruments
5. Elimination of Redundancy and Duplicative Activities
6. Greater Efficiency in Processing
7. Better Utilization of Staff at JAC and Service Providers
8. Overall Budgetary Savings

Future efforts will focus on the dissemination of assessment information to decision-makers and service providers in the context of confidentiality and health laws as they pertain to juveniles and their families.

Lead Researchers

• Dr. Lee Underwood
• Dr. Joe Cocozza
• Kathy Skowyra