Racial differences in the mental health needs and service utilization of youth in the juvenile justice system

Abstract

Mental health placement rates by the juvenile justice system differ by race. However, it is unknown whether mental health needs differ by race. This study attempted to investigate potential differences in mental health needs and service utilization among Caucasian, African American, and Hispanic juvenile justice involved youth. A stratified random sample of 473 youth petitioned, adjudicated, and incarcerated from 1995-1996 was examined using a standard chart review protocol and the Childhood Severity of Psychiatric Illness measure for mental health needs. Significant and unique mental health needs were demonstrated for all racial groups. African American youth demonstrated the greatest level of needs. Minority status indicated significantly lower rates of mental health service utilization. Minority youth in the juvenile justice system are most at risk for underserved mental health needs. Based on the current data, it can be inferred that the first contact with the state's child and adolescent serving system, which includes the juvenile justice and mental health sectors, appears to be through the juvenile justice sector for many minority youth with delinquency problems.

Factors Associated with Mental Health Services Use among Disconnected African-American Young Adult Population

“…These five mental health service categories were based on common services accessed by adolescents and young adults with mental health problems in previous research. [15][16][17] In previous research, Garland et al 17 categorized the services within SACA as outpatient services, 24-h care services including inpatient care services and informal care services that included self-help groups and counseling services. Other researchers have categorized the services used by adolescents into mental health and substance abuse treatment services and have included residential treatment centers in those categories.…”

“…Other researchers have categorized the services used by adolescents into mental health and substance abuse treatment services and have included residential treatment centers in those categories. 16 For the purpose of this research, the services were categorized as follows:…”

“…Perhaps as a result of these different sources of stress, adolescents and young adults between the ages of 16 and 24 in the USA are particularly vulnerable to certain mental disorders and emotional problems. The National Comorbidity Survey found that 25% of young adults in the [16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24] year age group experience depressive disorders by the age of 24, 2,3 and the Collaborative Psychiatric Epidemiology Surveys (CPES) found that about 13% of 18-24-year-old African-American youths had a depressive disorder. 4 The increased susceptibility to mental health problems among emerging adults is best addressed by provision of appropriate mental health services.…”

“…While there is some literature on mental health services use by African-American adolescents and young adults, there is no known previous research examining mental health service use among a particularly vulnerable population of African-American adolescents and young adults-i.e., those who are disconnected from school and enrolled in employment training programs. A Center for Labor Market Studies analysis estimated that in 2001 there were 5.2 million [16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24] year olds in the US who were disconnected from school and the labor force. 11 The mental health needs of such a population are potentially unique and need to be ascertained in order to provide appropriate services.…”

Are CAFAS Subscales and Item Weights Valid? A Preliminary Investigation of the Child and Adolescent Functional Assessment Scale

“…After all, the current CAFAS demonstrates adequate concurrent and predictive validity for a host of negative outcomes (e.g., Rawal, Romansky, Jenuwine, & Lyons, 2004). Would these results alter any of the previous findings that have been documented?…”