Underlying Principles

The underlying principles guide the model and provide the basis for the recommendations that are put forward in the document. These principles represent the foundation on which a system can be built that is committed and responsive to addressing the mental health needs of youth in its care. The Underlying Principles of the Comprehensive Model include:

1. Youth should not have to enter the juvenile justice system solely in order to access mental health services or because of their mental illness.

2. Whenever possible and when matters of public safety allow, youth with mental health needs should be diverted into evidence-based treatment in a community setting.

3. If diversion out of the juvenile justice system is not possible, youth should be placed in the least restrictive setting possible, with access to evidence-based treatment.

4. Information collected as part of a pre-adjudicatory mental health screen should not be used in any way that might jeopardize the legal interests of youth as defendants.

5. All mental health services provided to youth in contact with the juvenile justice system should respond to issues of gender, ethnicity, race, age, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, and faith.

6. Mental health services should meet the developmental realities of youth. Children and adolescents are not simply little adults.

7. Whenever possible, families and/or caregivers should be partners in the development of treatment decisions and plans made for their children.

8. Multiple systems bear responsibility for these youth. While at different times, a single agency may have primary responsibility, these youth are the community’s responsibility and all responses developed for these youth should be collaborative in nature, reflecting the input and involvement of the mental health, juvenile justice, and other systems.

9. Services and strategies aimed at improving the identification and treatment of youth with mental health needs in the juvenile justice system should be routinely evaluated to determine their effectiveness in meeting desired goals and outcomes.