Module 1: Overview of the Juvenile Justice, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Treatment Systems

7C. Cultural Issues

Recent research regarding cultural issues reveals disproportionate minority confinement and overrepresentation of African American versus Caucasian youth in the juvenile justice system. Likewise, minority youth in the mental health treatment system are treated differently than Caucasian youth even though the rates of mental illness are similar. Barriers and obstacles for minorities to access treatment services result in the juvenile justice system often being the first opportunity for minority youth to receive assessment and treatment for co-occurring disorders; thus, it is important for the juvenile justice system to take cultural factors into account during the initial assessment. An exercise is included that highlights characteristics of culturally sensitive juvenile justice, mental health, and substance abuse treatment systems.