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Service Screens Delinquent Youths for Placement in Treatment Programs

NCJ Number
132055
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 53 Issue: 5 Dated: (August 1991) Pages: 172,174-178
Author(s)
R K Jensen; D Hanshaw
Date Published
1991
Length
6 pages
Annotation
By screening a large number of youths, referring them to an appropriate alcohol and drug treatment provider, and sharing information about their participation in treatment with the juvenile justice system, the Early Service and Intervention Program (ESI) in Portland, Ore., is an integral part of the Multnomah County Juvenile Justice Division's commitment to a balanced approach to treating the city's youth.
Abstract
The ESI has three components: screening, treatment referral, and tracking. The screening interview stems from a referral from the juvenile court counselor. The ESI interviewer elicits a brief social history and then obtains an alcohol and drug use history that covers the youth's first date of use, drugs used, use pattern, and recognized consequences of abuse. Youths also provide information on previous treatment, insurance coverage, and whether their families will participate in treatment. Approximately one-third of the clients provide a urine sample for drug testing. If the interviewer believes a youth can benefit from treatment, a recommendation for a specific program is made to the court counselor. ESI has developed a network of treatment providers based on personal contacts, site visits, and treatment-model reviews. Tracking involves the monitoring of youths' participation in treatment. Reports on Youths' treatment progress are reviewed by juvenile court counselors, lawyers, and judges. Characteristics of a typical youth and database management are also discussed in this article.