Youth Involved in the Juvenile Justice System
Speaker: Laura Benjamins, MD
A recent study of youth involved in the juvenile justice system regarding preventive health services found that many of the youth had not received "comprehensive screenings for sexual health, mental health symptoms, or substance use at well-child visits" in the year prior to their detention. Furthermore, it has been well established that childhood abuse and neglect greatly increases the likelihood of future juvenile justice involvement, with many youth being dual involved with the foster care system. With rates of depression, anxiety, substance use and sexually transmitted infections increasing in our communities, it is even more imperative at this time to ensure that our youth have access to services that can address their many needs.
Learning Objectives:
Have knowledge of national statistics, including several health indicators, for youth involved in the juvenile justice system
Understand common health care needs, as well as barriers to providing care
Discuss the delivery of care to youth residing in a large Southwestern detention facility as a model of care
Have knowledge of research done in this setting
Review perspectives from youth