A Blueprint for Change: Improving the System Response to Youth with Mental Health Needs Involved with the Juvenile Justice System

This research briefly discusses the Blueprint for Change model, which offers a framework for juvenile justice and mental health systems to use when developing strategies and policies aimed at improving mental health services for system-involved youth. The brief describes the underlying principals of the model; the four cornerstones: collaboration, identification, diversion, and treatment; and provides direction on how to implement the model. It also includes programmatic examples and critical intervention points on when to use these programs.