Evaluating Project Connect: improving juvenile probationers' mental health and substance use service access.
Project Connect is a multilayered county-specific program aimed at linking juvenile probationers to needed mental health and substance use services. In four NY counties, the intervention included cooperative agreements between probation and mental health authorities, program materials to facilitate referral, in-service training for probation officers, and systematic screening for mental health needs. Charts for 583 Baseline youths were reviewed and compared with 594 youths undergoing intake under Project Connect. Compared to Baseline, under Project Connect, referred youths were 2.7 times as likely to access services, regardless of youth or county characteristics, service availability, or when the intervention took place.
Wasserman
Gail A
GA
Center for the Promotion of Mental Health in Juvenile Justice, NY State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA. wassermg@childpsych.columbia.edu
McReynolds
Larkin S
LS
Musabegovic
Hana
H
Whited
Andria L
AL
Keating
Joseph M
JM
Huo
Yanling
Y
D000293:Adolescent; D019090:Case Management / Q000458:organization & administration; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000458:organization & administration; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration; D009518:New York; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000458:organization & administration; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology; D000092864:Suicide Prevention