1. Cuyahoga County Strengthening Communities – Youth (SCY) Project: Findings & Implications for Juvenile Justice David L. Hussey, Ph.D. Associate Professor Institute for the Study and Prevention of Violence Kent State University

2. Strengthening Communities – Youth (SCY) The SCY project (2002-2007, CSAT 3.75 million dollars) served youth between the ages of 12 and 17 who arrive at the Cuyahoga County Detention Center as a result of a new arrest Youth are screened for substance use by a representative from the Public Defender’s office/Juvenile Division and referred to Catholic Counseling Services for further assessment using the Global Appraisal of Individual Needs (GAIN) Clinical recommendations will be presented to court prior to disposition Once assessed, youth are referred to an appropriate level of care for substance abuse treatment and followed at 3, 6, and 12 months

3. Demographics 82% male 53% African-American, 29% Caucasian, 6% Hispanic/Latino, 11% biracial/mixed, 1% other Average age=15.7 years (range=12-18) At least 64% are Medicaid eligible About half (54%) live in the city of Cleveland 84% 12-month follow-up rate for study

4. GAIN Mental Health Indices Moderate Severe Range Internal Mental Distress Somatic Symptoms Depressive Symptoms Homicidal Suicidal Thoughts Anxiety Symptoms Traumatic Stress All Youth90 (39%)117 (50%)148 (64%)57 (25%)103 (44%)81 (35%) Males64 (34%)89 (47%)113 (59%)42 (22%)79 (42%)59 (31%) Females26 (62%)*28 (67%)*35 (83%)*15 (36%) 24 (57%)22 (52%)* Moderate Severe Range Behavior Complexity ADHDInattentive Disorder Hyperactive Disorder Conduct Disorder All Youth162 (70%)123 (53%)95 (41%)40 (17%)163 (70%) Males127 (67%)98 (52%)73 (38%)26 (14%)129 (68%) Females35 (83%)*25 (59%)22 (52%)14 (33%) *34 (81%) * Statistically significant differences between males and females, p <.05

5. Lifetime Charges (JIMS Data) SCY youth were, on average, 14.41 years old at the time of their first charge Total charges=2,571 (N=227) On average, SCY youth had been charged with 10.19 (SD=7.30, median=9) offenses (excluding traffic) Misdemeanors accounted for the largest proportion of charges (40%), followed by felonies (30%), traffic offenses (11%), probation violations (10%) and status offenses (9%)

6. Domestic Violence Charges 43% of youth had at least one domestic violence charge 41% had at least one adjudicated domestic violence charge Of the total adjudicated domestic violence charges, 90% were misdemeanor level and 10% were felony level A higher proportion of females than males had adjudicated domestic violence charges

7. Environmental Risk (GAIN-I)

8. General Victimization Scale (GAIN-I) On average, youth reported the first time they were victimized they were 11 years old Significantly more females than males report sexual victimization and emotional abuse at the hands of someone close to them or that they trusted Significantly more males than females report being attacked with a weapon

9. Child Welfare Involvement (CPS data) The majority of SCY youth (69%) had at least one allegation of any type of maltreatment (neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional maltreatment) Almost half (47%) of youth had a substantiated or indicated maltreatment incident in their lifetime On average, SCY youth were 7.7 years old at the time of first maltreatment allegation 24% of SCY youth had experienced at least one out-of- home placement (OHP) in their lifetime ◦ On average, youth who had experienced any OHP had 3 out-of- home placements (median=2) ◦ Most commonly, placement was in foster/adoptive homes or community residential centers

10. Victimization 64% of youth report some type of victimization on the GAIN 47% of youth had a substantiated/ indicated incident of maltreatment If considered together, 80% of all SCY youth have a history of some type of victimization

11. Youth Cross-System Involvement Juvenile Justice, Alcohol and Drug, Mental Health, Special Education, Child Protective Services (CPS) 12% of youth were involved with only the juvenile justice and alcohol and drug systems 88% were involved in at least one other system 32% involved in 3 systems, 40% involved in 4 systems, 15% involved in all five systems

12. Youth Cross–System Involvement System Involvement In Addition to Juvenile Justice and Alcohol and Drug (N = 232) Mental Health131 (56%) Special Education67 (29%) Child Protective Services (CPS) - any contact Any Allegation Any Substantiated / Indicated Finding Any Out-of-Home Placement 173 (75%) 159 (68%) 108 (47%) 56 (24%) Mental Health and Special Education41 (18%) Mental Health & CPS104 (45%) Special Education & CPS57 (25%) Mental Health, Special Education & CPS36 (15%)

14. Discussion & Implications For juvenile justice youth, mental health, substance abuse, comorbidity, violence, victimization, delinquency, and lifetime cross- system involvement rates very high, strongly interconnected, and closely related to identification, assessment, intervention, and outcomes Emerging gender differences impact assessment and treatment High levels of domestic violence and environmental risk present contextual challenges in practice