The Models for Change Initiative, supported by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, is an effort to create successful and replicable models of juvenile justice reform through targeted investments in key states.  Four states are participating in Models for Change - Pennsylvania, Illinois, Louisiana and Washington.  The National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice is a member of the Foundation’s National Resource Bank, a group of juvenile justice organizations and experts funded by the MacArthur Foundation to provide technical assistance to the Models for Change sites in support of their reform efforts.  The Center works intensively with all four Models for Change states on their mental health related reform initiatives.  Click here for additional information about the mental health reform initiatives of the Models for Change States. 

The NCMHJJ was recently awarded a three year grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation to establish and coordinate a Mental Health/Juvenile Justice Action Network.  The Action Network is a collaboration of eight states, including the four Models for Change States and four new Partnering States, focused on improving the way juvenile justice systems respond to the needs of youth with mental health problems.  Click here for additional information about the MH/JJ Action Network.

The Center is a technical assistance partner to the Council of State Governments, the technical assistance provider for the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program (JMHCP).  The JMHCP is a grant program authorized by the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act that seeks to improve the response to adults and juveniles with mental health problems that come in contact with the justice system through collaborative initiatives.  The NCMHJJ works with CSG to provide technical assistance to grantees focused on addressing the mental health needs of youth involved with the juvenile justice system.  Click here for more information about the JMHCP.

The Center is currently undertaking a study of the Crossroads Program, a juvenile mental health court in Akron, Ohio.  With the exception of a descriptive study conducted by the National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice (NCMHJJ), little is known about juvenile mental health courts.  This study begins to address the gaps in the knowledge base by collecting additional information about the characteristics of youth involved in juvenile mental health courts, and comparing the experiences of youth who participate in the Summit County juvenile mental health court with similar youth that are processed through regular juvenile court.