Cook County Juvenile Justice and Mental Health Collaboration

CCH would like to pursue a new project design that focuses exclusively on the training of personnel working with justice involved youth who have mental illness and co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorders (MI/CMISA). Our existing grant narrative includes a training component that we would like to expand in the areas of content, depth, material support, and audience. Our current training-oriented project deliverables include: signs/symptoms of MI/CMISA in adolescents; broad training relating to MH/SUD/trauma in adolescents; Medicaid eligibility and enrollment; and social determinants of health. We propose the utilization of grant funding to purchase and support additional training to include: evidence based MI/CMISA treatment interventions; screening and assessment of MI/CMISA; trauma awareness and trauma-informed treatment interventions; critical cultural competency; awareness of systemic racism; and other relevant trainings as requested by justice partners / stakeholders. Because training isn’t usually sufficient in and of itself, our proposal also includes using grant funding to purchase resources and materials that support ongoing MI/CMISA treatment and awareness efforts. Examples include workbooks, access to periodicals, judicial bench cards, signage/posters, desk reference guides (e.g., DSM-V TR), etc. In terms of audience, our focus will continue to be upon the agencies that are represented in the Cook County Juvenile Justice Behavioral Health Clinical Steering Committee (JJBHCSC). They include designees from CCH, the Office of the Chief Judge, the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center, the Juvenile Probation Department and The Northwestern University Juvenile Court Clinic. Worth noting is the fact that the 2019 JJBHCSC strategic plan has several relevant focus areas including: • Installation of Standardized Screening and Assessment Protocols • Enhancement of the Array of Service Interventions Aligned with Evidence-Based Practices (EBP) • Expansion of Continuity of Care • Implementation of Trauma-Informed Organizational Practices In addition to the JJBHCSC, we would like to expand our efforts to include training for community agencies who regularly provide services to justice involved youth. These agencies are often underfunded and would welcome the opportunity to receive low or no cost training. The youth that our juvenile justice system refers to these agencies will undoubtedly benefit from the opportunity to be served by staff who have access to EBP resources, are well trained, culturally competent, and trauma aware.