Evidence-based treatment for justice-involved youth

Abstract

This chapter pinpoints the conceptual foundations and treatment strategies for early intervention and community-based treatment programs, and provides case examples illustrating the unique features of each approach. In addition, it presents two promising transition programs with implications for treatment of youth in secure programs prior to their participation in community-based aftercare treatments. Early intervention and community-based treatment programs are intended to provide alternatives to secure facilities for juveniles involved in criminal activity. These approaches are analogous to strategies used in public health to prevent, control, and reduce the impact of illness on quality of life, morbidity, and mortality. Two examples of early intervention programs include diversion programs and mentoring programs. All of the common characteristics of evidence-based programs highlighted in the chapter must be attended to and fulfilled, including: qualities of effective providers; training and protocol adherence; clinical supervision; and collaboration with stakeholders in the system.