A Primer for Mental Health Practitioners Working With Youth Involved in the Juvenile Justice System provides an overview for mental health practitioners who provide professional services to youth who are involved with the juvenile justice system. This overview emphasizes emerging research and practices, the conceptualization of trauma and its implications for youth involved with the juvenile justice system, and implications for policy and practice.

This document is primarily intended for mental health professionals working within system-of-care communities or interested in developing a system-of-care collaboration in their area. It is also relevant for juvenile court and juvenile justice professionals whose work brings them into contact with youth and any mental health practitioners working with youth who are at risk or in contact with the juvenile justice system.

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 2012.

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