An integrated assessment to intervention framework with inclusion of the interRAI's Child and Youth Mental Health (ChYMH) tool in care planning for justice involved youth
Abstract
Several assessment measures have been established in exploring the risk for recidivism among juvenile offenders; however, few have considered the holistic exploration of youth needs, and how these might implicate with the risk for delinquency. Extant research has illustrated the efficacy of the biopsychosocial framework in the investigation of individual needs. Paper one explores the use of this holistic model for the assessment of young offenders in providing greater insight into areas of risk, as well as mental health needs which are disproportionately present among this population. The interRAI suite are especially notable for their exploration of mental health and well-being, providing comprehensive and evidence-based interventions for service providers to inform treatment planning. Highlighting the importance for this comprehensive form of integrated assessment of young offenders is the aim of Paper One. Also unique to the interRAI suite of instruments has been the inclusion of youth strengths that have been cited as a major shortcoming among alternative and widely implemented youth assessment measures. The inclusion of strengths as a predictor of recidivism has been a hotly contested topic in juvenile justice literature. The aim of the second paper in this analysis first explored if there existed any significant differences between male and female identifying justice involved youth, in their reported strengths; followed by an exploration of the relationship between strengths and risk for delinquency. Lastly, the relationship between academic achievement and delinquency has been well established; however, few endeavours have explored the mechanisms which may expediate this relationship. Understanding how responsivity related factors influence justice involved youths’ education is pivotal given the life course implication of academic achievement on decreasing and/or exacerbating risk for continued delinquent behaviour forming the basis of the third paper of this dissertation. This research endeavour aims to further the discussion for the interRAI suite of instruments to support the accurate assessment and triaging of justice involved youth with the aim of fostering increased likelihood for positive outcomes.