Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument for Mental Health Needs of Juvenile Justice Youths

Allocating limited mental health resources is a challenge for juvenile justice facilities. We evaluated the clinical utility of the Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument, Version 2 (MAYSI-2)—an instrument designed to aid in this process—in three subsamples of justice-involved youth (ages 14-17): detained girls ( n = 69), detained boys ( n = 130), and incarcerated boys ( n = 373). For perspective, we compared its performance (in the incarcerated subsample) to that of the Youth Self-Report (YSR), a more widely-used screen. The MAYSI-2 subscales were moderately useful for detecting relevant diagnoses, and differences were observed across samples. However, as a general mental health screen, the MAYSI-2 performed well (and comparably to the YSR), correctly classifying 66% to 75% of youth. When used to differentiate youth with any and without any disorder, both instruments were effective. Given the MAYSI-2’s practical advantages over the YSR (lower cost, easier administration), it may be a better option for juvenile facilities.

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Girls With Mental Health Needs in the Juvenile Justice System: Challenges and Inequities Confronting a Vulnerable Population

Exceptionality ◽

10.1207/s15327035ex1302_5 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 125-139 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Mary Magee Quinn ◽

Jeffrey M. Poirier ◽

Lili Garfinkel

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Juvenile Justice ◽

Justice System ◽

Juvenile Justice System ◽

Vulnerable Population ◽

Health Needs ◽

Mental Health Needs

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Validation of the Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument with a looked after population

Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry ◽

10.1177/1359104518799119 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 24 (3) ◽

pp. 593-607

Author(s):

Claire Reilly ◽

Dan R Johnson ◽

Kirstin Ferguson

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Young People ◽

Substance Misuse ◽

Factor Model ◽

Screening Instrument ◽

Mental Health Needs ◽

Education And Care ◽

Good Internal Consistency ◽

Health Need ◽

Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument

The Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument–version 2 (MAYSI-2) was developed to help identify mental health needs of young people admitted to youth detention centres. Only one study has applied the tool to a UK population and none have looked at young people who live in residential and secure care in Scotland. This study aimed to assess the validity of the MAYSI-2 in Scotland with a looked after and accommodated population. Boys and girls in a large education and care centre were asked to complete the MAYSI-2 within 72 hours of being accommodated. A total of 168 males and 69 females with a mean age of 15 completed the tool. Substantial levels of mental health need were identified. Girls appeared to have higher needs on all areas, bar alcohol and substance misuse. The MAYSI-2 had good internal consistency and exploratory factor analysis showed good overlap with the tool’s original factor model. As a result, there can be more confidence in the validity and consistency of the tool with this population. This is also further evidence of the high need of this population, particularly girls.

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Using the PBIS Framework to Meet the Mental Health Needs of Youth in Juvenile Justice Facilities

Remedial and Special Education ◽

10.1177/0741932519880336 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 41 (2) ◽

pp. 80-87 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Skip Kumm ◽

Sarup R. Mathur ◽

Michelle Cassavaugh ◽

Erin Butts

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Juvenile Justice ◽

Behavioral Interventions ◽

Health Needs ◽

Mental Health Needs ◽

Mental Health Agencies ◽

Positive Behavioral Interventions ◽

Trauma Informed Care ◽

Health Agencies ◽

Trauma Informed

Youth in juvenile justice facilities may experience symptoms of mental health disorders and trauma at a higher rate than their normative peers. As a result, juvenile justice facilities have become de facto mental health agencies, resulting in an increased need to provide interventions that can meet the various needs of their residents. Embedding mental health and trauma-informed care into tiered facility-wide positive behavioral interventions and supports (FW-PBIS) is an emerging practice to meet a multitude of youth mental health symptoms. In this article, we provide examples of how mental health and trauma-informed care can be interwoven into an FW-PBIS framework by using a data-based decision-making process to guide the implementation of tiered evidence-based interventions, and we offer implications for practice and research.

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