Module 2: Screening and Assessment

5D. Strength-Focused Assessment

When working with youth with co-occurring disorders in the juvenile justice system, it is easy to become focused on areas that need improvement in the youth’s life. But, no matter how many difficulties youth with co-occurring disorders and their family may have, they all possess strengths that can help improve the quality of their lives.

It is important not to emphasize language that implies something is wrong or bad. For example, many clinicians ask youth and/or their family about problems in school, conflictual relationships, and so forth. Use of words such as "challenges" instead of "problems" can help youth and their family feel more supported. In addition to asking about where the youth have had difficulty in the past, it is critical to ask where they have excelled in their life.

Non-Academic Skills

Be creative when asking school-related questions. If youth have had difficulty with academic achievement and have a history of poor grades, ask about other aspects of their school experience. Do they have friends at school or have they continued to apply themselves in the classroom even when they were frustrated or the schoolwork was difficult for them? These are important skills to possess. Are the youth involved with any extracurricular activities or sports teams? Inquiring about other aspects of the school experience in addition to academic achievement can be particularly helpful for youth involved with juvenile justice who may already feel inadequate and incompetent because of their poor grades. Taking this broader view of their functioning shows the youth that the clinician is interested in knowing all about them. It also helps the youth view themselves from this broader, more inclusive perspective.

Protective Factors

When youth with co-occurring disorders come into contact with the juvenile justice system, they or their families may feel hopeless about the youth’s future. Ask how they have survived hardships and problems in the past. Find out when the youth was functioning more effectively and assess what factors contributed to the youth’s success. Not only does this type of dialogue help the youth and family feel less hopeless, but identifying protective factors is helpful when developing a treatment strategy. Families are more likely to become partners and positive participants in treatment interventions.

The Behavioral and Emotional Rating Scale: A Strength-Based Approach to Assessment provides a standardized, norm-referenced, reliable, and valid instrument that measures a youth's emotional and behavioral strengths (Epstein, 1999; Harniss et al., 1999).