Out-of-home placement decision-making and outcomes in child welfare: a longitudinal study.

After children enter the child welfare system, subsequent out-of-home placement decisions and their impact on children's well-being are complex and under-researched. This study examined two placement decision-making models: a multidisciplinary team approach, and a decision support algorithm using a standardized assessment. Based on 3,911 placement records in the Illinois child welfare system over 4 years, concordant (agreement) and discordant (disagreement) decisions between the two models were compared.

Patterns of out-of-home placement decision-making in child welfare.

Out-of-home placement decision-making in child welfare is founded on the best interest of the child in the least restrictive setting. After a child is removed from home, however, little is known about the mechanism of placement decision-making. This study aims to systematically examine the patterns of out-of-home placement decisions made in a state's child welfare system by comparing two models of placement decision-making: a multidisciplinary team decision-making model and a clinically based decision support algorithm.

Infusing protective factors for children in foster care.

This article looks at an example of infusing protective factors into a child welfare system. Focusing on Illinois and its state child welfare agency, the article reviews some of the research on the relationship between risk behaviors and protective factors of traumatized youth. Next, it looks at adapting treatment and evidence-based early intervention practices to local child welfare settings.

Psychiatric disorders among detained youths: a comparison of youths processed in juvenile court and adult criminal court.

Objective: All 50 states and the District of Columbia have legal mechanisms to try juveniles as adults in criminal court. This study examined the prevalence of psychiatric disorders among youths transferred to adult criminal court and youths processed in the juvenile court.

Methods: Participants were a stratified random sample of 1,829 youths, ten to 18 years of age, who were arrested and detained in Chicago.

Posttraumatic stress disorder and psychiatric comorbidity among detained youths.

Objective: This study examined the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and comorbid psychiatric disorders among juvenile detainees.

Methods: The sample consisted of a stratified random sample of 898 youths aged ten to 18 years who were arrested and detained in Chicago.

Results: Among participants with PTSD, 93% had at least one comorbid psychiatric disorder; however, among those without PTSD, 64% had at least one comorbid psychiatric disorder.

A longitudinal study of the prevalence, development, and persistence of HIV/sexually transmitted infection risk behaviors in delinquent youth: implications for health care in the community.

Objectives: Our goal was to examine the prevalence, development, and persistence of drug and sex risk behaviors that place delinquent youth at risk for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.

Methods: At the baseline interview, HIV/sexually transmitted infection drug and sex risk behaviors were assessed in a stratified random sample of 800 juvenile detainees aged 10 to 18 years. Participants were reinterviewed approximately 3 years later.

Development of antisocial personality disorder in detained youths: the predictive value of mental disorders.

Antisocial personality disorder (APD) is a serious public and mental health concern. Understanding how well conduct disorder (CD) and other mental disorders predict the development of APD among youths involved in the juvenile justice system is critical for prevention. The authors used a stratified random sample of 1,112 detained youths to examine the development of APD at a 3-year follow-up interview.

Concordance between self-reported maltreatment and court records of abuse or neglect among high-risk youths.

Objectives: We examined the concordance between measures of self-reported maltreatment and court records of abuse or neglect in a sample of detained youths.

Methods: Data were collected by the Northwestern Juvenile Project and include interviews from 1829 youths aged 10-18 years. Participants were newly detained youths in the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center in Illinois between 1995 and 1998.

Detecting mental disorder in juvenile detainees: who receives services.

Objectives: We determined whether or not juvenile detainees with major mental disorders received treatment, and the variables that predicted who received services.

Methods: Our sample was 1829 randomly selected juvenile detainees taking part in the Northwestern Juvenile Project. To determine need for mental health services, independent interviewers administered the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children and rated functional impairment using the Child Global Assessment Scale.

Crime victimization in adults with severe mental illness: comparison with the National Crime Victimization Survey.

Context: Since deinstitutionalization, most persons with severe mental illness (SMI) now live in the community, where they are at great risk for crime victimization.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence and incidence of crime victimization among persons with SMI by sex, race/ethnicity, and age, and to compare rates with general population data (the National Crime Victimization Survey), controlling for income and demographic differences between the samples.

Design: Epidemiologic study of persons in treatment.

Major mental disorders, substance use disorders, comorbidity, and HIV-AIDS risk behaviors in juvenile detainees.

Objectives: This study determined the prevalence of 20 HIV-AIDS risk behaviors of four groups of juvenile detainees: those with major mental disorders alone, those with substance use disorders alone, those with comorbid mental and substance use disorders, and those without any major mental or substance use disorder.

Methods: Interviewers administered the AIDS Risk Behavior Assessment to 800 randomly selected juvenile detainees aged ten to 18 years who were initially arrested between 1997 and 1998. Diagnoses were determined with the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children, Version 2.

Multiple substance use disorders in juvenile detainees.

Objective: To estimate the 6-month prevalence of multiple substance use disorders (SUDs) among juvenile detainees by demographic subgroups (sex, race/ethnicity, age).

Method: Participants were a randomly selected sample of 1,829 African American, non-Hispanic white, and Hispanic detainees (1,172 males, 657 females, aged 10 to 18). Patterns and prevalence of DSM-III-R multiple SUDs were assessed using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children Version 2.

Posttraumatic stress disorder and trauma in youth in juvenile detention.

Objective: To determine prevalence estimates of exposure to trauma and 12-month rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among juvenile detainees by demographic subgroups (sex, race/ethnicity, and age).

Design: Epidemiologic study of juvenile detainees. Master's level clinical research interviewers administered the PTSD module of the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children, version IV (DISC-IV), to randomly selected detainees.

Comorbid psychiatric disorders in youth in juvenile detention.

Objective: To estimate 6-month prevalence of comorbid psychiatric disorders among juvenile detainees by demographic subgroups (sex, race/ethnicity, and age).

Design: Epidemiologic study of juvenile detainees. Master's level clinical research interviewers administered the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children Version 2.

Comorbidity of severe psychiatric disorders and substance use disorders among women in jail.

Objective: This article presents the prevalence, patterns, and sequences of severe psychiatric disorders and substance use disorders among female jail detainees.

Method: Subjects were a randomly selected, stratified sample of 1,272 female arrestees awaiting trial at the Cook County Department of Corrections in Chicago. Independent clinical research interviewers administered the National Institute of Mental Health Diagnostic Interview Schedule Version III-R to assess comorbid psychiatric disorders and substance use disorders.

Psychiatric disorders in youth in juvenile detention.

Background: Given the growth of juvenile detainee populations, epidemiologic data on their psychiatric disorders are increasingly important. Yet, there are few empirical studies. Until we have better epidemiologic data, we cannot know how best to use the system's scarce mental health resources.

HIV and AIDS risk behaviors among female jail detainees: implications for public health policy.

Objectives: We examined the sexual and injection drug use HIV and AIDS risk behaviors of female jail detainees.

Methods: The sample (n = 948) was stratified by charge type (felony vs misdemeanor) and race/ethnicity (African American, non-Hispanic White, Hispanic, other).

Results: Non-Hispanic White women, women arrested for less serious charges, women who had prior arrests, women arrested on drug charges, and women with severe mental disorders were at especially high risk for sexual and injection drug transmission of HIV and AIDS.