Access to behavioral health services for children within the juvenile justice system: Enabling and barrier factors

The primary purpose of this research was to conduct a policy analysis to explain how behavioral health needs of children are addressed by the juvenile justice system. This study focused primarily on the enabling and barrier factors to accessing behavioral health care services for juvenile justice children as viewed by juvenile justice officials and mental health professionals.;The conceptual model developed for this study proposed several factors that enable the juvenile justice system to effectively implement its role in assisting children to access behavioral health care. When one or more of the factors are missing or inadequate, barriers to juvenile justice children accessing behavioral health care then exist. The conceptual model encompasses the following factors that may influence access: (1) behavioral health screening; (2) effective parents and guardians; (3) adequate managed behavioral health care; and (4) available behavioral health services.;The study used a multiple embedded case study design to make cross-case comparisons and analytic generalizations to the proposed conceptual model. Common themes from the interview data were derived for the purpose of determining their congruence with the proposed conceptual model.;A total of 30 key informants from the federal, state, and local juvenile justice agencies participated in the study. Interview data were collected using an investigator-constructed semi-structured interview guide. Also, a Demographic Questionnaire was used to obtain data about the sample.;The study found: (1) there is insufficient funding of mental health and substance abuse services for juvenile justice children; (2) a formal identification process, through screening of all juvenile justice children is missing; (3) parents and guardians do not always understand their role in the family therapy process; (4) the juvenile justice system has become the mental health community system of care for children; and (5) the limited fragmented, short-term oriented behavioral health system will lead to more incarcerated, mentally ill children.;The study concluded that there are barriers to juvenile justice children accessing mental health and/or substance abuse services related to the following areas: (1) juvenile justice agencies addressing behavioral health needs; (2) lack of behavioral health screening; (3) non-cooperative parents and guardians; (4) inadequate managed behavioral health care; and (5) lack of available behavioral health services.