Blog: diversion

Teen Drug Overdose Death Rate Doubles Over Last Decade; News Roundup

By Anonymous, December 01 2015

Every week Reclaiming Futures rounds up the latest news on juvenile justice reform, adolescent substance use treatment, and teen mental health. 

Teen Drug Overdose Death Rate Doubles Over Last Decade (Psychiatry Advisor)
Trust For America's Health released a new report with findings that the American drug overdose mortality rate has more than doubled over the last ten years, and especially among young men between the ages of 12 to 25 years old. Prescription drugs were found to be responsible for many of the overdoses, and were also found to be connected to heroin addictions in young people.

Topics: Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment, California, diversion, Juvenile Justice Reform, lgbt, Native American, New York, News, Ohio, Positive Youth Development, Resources, school, school discipline, School-to-Prison Pipeline, schools

Improve Diversion for Youth with Behavioral Health Disorders

By Susan Richardson, February 06 2014

Will yours be one of five states selected to receive expert technical assistance to help young people? You won't know if you don't apply.
Applications are being accepted for Improving Diversion Policies and Programs for Justice-Involved Youth with Behavioral Health Disorders: An Integrated Policy Academy-Action Network Initiative, made possible with support from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.
Selected states will convene core teams of senior-level officials at the state and local levels to implement a school-based or probation-intake diversion program for youth with behavioral health disorders. This work will emphasize:

  • Decreasing the unnecessary involvement of youth with behavioral health problems in the justice system
  • Using research-based screening and assessment practices
  • Recognizing the important role of evidence-based and trauma-informed practice and treatment
  • Increasing collaboration among stakeholders to facilitate access to community treatment and services
  • Reducing the overrepresentation of youth of color in the juvenile justice system

The full announcement and application materials are available for download at www.ncmhjj.com. Applications will be accepted through Friday, February 28, 2014. 

Topics: Adolescent Mental Health, diversion, Funding, No bio box