Meeting Their Needs: Identifying and Treating Youth with Behavior Health Disorders

Meeting Their Needs: Identifying and Treating Youth with Behavior Health Disorders

Based on recent scientific and legal developments, there is an urgent need to ensure that adolescent development research is incorporated into existing practices and future polices pertaining to youth. This fall, the Vera Institute of Justice is convening a series of research-based, educational briefings on adolescent brain research, the systemic causes of youth contact with the justice system, and the implications for future legal standards and best practices.

Vera convened a panel of experts to discuss the effect and prevalence of behavior health disorders in youth within the juvenile justice system, and to address necessary changes in policies and practices to ensure that they are treated with the most effective methods and interventions.

Panelists:

Joe Cocozza, Ph.D.
Director & Vice President of Research, National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice, Policy Research Associates, Inc.

Sheriff Richard Stanek
Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office

Sara Cusworth Walker, Ph.D.
Research Assistant Professor, University of Washington

The Vera Institute of Justice is a nonprofit that has worked for more than five decades to transform justice systems. Vera produces ideas, analysis and research that inspire change in the systems people rely upon for safety and justice, and works in close partnership with government and civic leaders to implement it.