News

On June 20, 2014, the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the MacArthur Foundation announced that Georgia, Indiana, Massachusetts, and Tennessee have been selected to participate in the Improving Diversion Polices and Programs for Justice-Involved Youth with Behavioral Health Disorders: An Integrated Policy Academy-Action Network Initiative.  This collaborative effort, which targets the behavioral health needs of youth in contact with the juvenile justice system, integrates two models:

• SAMHSA's Policy Academy mechanism - state leadership teams will convene to learn about effective interventions and the latest research; and
• The Foundation's Models for Change Action Network strategy - which will support and link these state leadership teams to work collaboratively on similar innovations in policy and practice.

TAC, in partnership with the National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice at Policy Research Associates, Inc., are coordinating this project and will be part of the team offering technical assistance to the states to guide the establishment of models and strategies for diverting youth with behavioral health disorders as early as possible from the juvenile justice system to appropriate community-based behavioral health services.

View the Press Release