Suffolk Juvenile Mental Health Enhancement Project

The e-Connect: Enhancing Behavioral Health Referral and Treatment for Family Court Youth in Suffolk County project aims to address the critical issue of suicidal behavior and behavioral health needs among justice-involved youth by incorporating a new screening tool for all youth entering the Family Court system to improve the identification of youth with mental health needs. The e-Connect system, developed by Columbia University, employs a multilevel approach utilizing clinical decision-support technology to enhance the identification, referral, and treatment initiation for SB and BH needs. This project will implement e-Connect in Suffolk County's Family Court and provide evidence-based treatment through Multidimensional Family Therapy to those youth scoring high need for immediate intensive treatment. The project will also assemble a Community Advisory Board of families of youth involved in Family Court, train probation officers, and establish referral pathways.