Diverting Youth With Behavioral Health Needs From the School-Justice Pathway: School-Based Behavioral Health Diversion—Who, Why, and How explores the school-justice pathway, the School Responder Model (SRM), and funding and implementing an SRM.
The School Responder Model (SRM) is a behavioral health response to school infractions that provides an alternative to calling law enforcement and addresses root causes of behavior. In an SRM, a responder screens youth for behavioral health needs, which include mental and substance use disorders and traumatic exposure, and connects youth to effective community-based behavioral health services. An effective responder initiative will identify youth with behavioral health needs, reduce their disproportionate referral to the juvenile justice system, and increase their connection to appropriate services that have been shown to work.
This infographic highlights SRM implementation in four states—Connecticut, Ohio, Nevada, and Wisconsin.
The National Center for Youth Opportunity and Justice (NCYOJ) originally developed and maintained this resource. The NCYOJ was operated by Policy Research, Inc. and operated from 2001 to 2022 and was formerly known as the National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice. The NCYOJ improved life opportunities for youth through systems and practice improvement initiatives.
This resource should be viewed as a reference document. It has not been updated since its publication. In addition, this document has not been made 508 compliant. If you would like a 508 compliant version of this document, please email communications@prainc.com.
This resource was first shared in 2019.
(PDF, 967KB)