Search

The article reports on the funding dispute between Tennessee and Knox County officials over court-ordered mental health evaluations of youths in juvenile facilities. The Tennessee Court of Appeals has ruled that the ones responsible for the cost of such evaluations were the county governments by state statute. However, the court has found that the state has been paying for such evaluation services, which was supposed to be the responsibility of county governments.

A federal government report to the U.S. Congress last year alerted the nation to the fact that parents by the thousands are handing their children over to the care of the state as a last-ditch effort to get them the mental health and addiction treatment they need. More than a dozen Florida judges have told state auditors they are locking up some young people accused of committing minor offenses so that the youths can get needed treatment for mental health and addiction disorders. Forty percent of people under 18 sent to Florida's juvenile justice centers have committed non-serious offenses. Both the U.S. Department of Children & Families and the U.S. Department of Juvenile Justice stressed that only a fraction of Florida's young people are committed because of non-felonies or with no histories of felonies.

Focuses on the mental health amendments to juvenile delinquency bills being considered in the United States House of Representatives. Allocation of funds for juvenile services; Requirements to states in submitting a plan for providing mental health services; Amendment to the Juvenile Accountability Incentive Block Program.

Reports on the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services' phase out of the use of beds at the Comprehensive Evaluation and Treatment Unit (CETU) for children in need of care in order to serve the juvenile corrections population. Need for a juvenile treatment center explained by CETU administrator Jim Fairchild; Strategy of bringing the wrap-around services in the facility.

Presents an article on mental health treatment in Georgia juvenile jails which appeared in the publication `Children's Services Report.' Significance of the agreement to improve mental health treatment of juveniles; Problems outlined by the Justice Department on Georgia's juvenile detention system; Requirements for Georgia officials included in the agreement.

Reports that the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention is offering a bulletin on juvenile residential facilities in the United States. Findings from the 2000 Juvenile Residential Facility Census; Focus on facility crowding and facility-related deaths.

Highlights the results of a report on the juvenile-justice system's problems in addressing mental illness in the United States. High rate of mentally ill children in the juvenile system; Call for the transfer of mental health programs for the juvenile-justice population to cost-effective family-and community-based settings; Other recommendations made by the report.

Reports on the US Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention's creation of a challenge grants program which offers states an opportunity to finance several mental health services for troubled youths. Activities eligible to be financed under the program; Call for comments on proposed program guidelines; Contact information.