Family Engagement, Cross-System Linkage to Substance Use Treatment for Juvenile Probationers -- Phase 3

Family Engagement, Cross-System Linkage to Substance Use Treatment for Juvenile Probationers -- Phase 3

Family Engagement, Cross-System Linkage to Substance Use Treatment for Juvenile Probationers -- Phase 3

Developed from adapting and combining two evidence-based programs, Project CONNECT (a linkage-to-services program that targets barriers within the probation and substance abuse treatment systems) and TIES (a program that teaches family engagement skills to providers), Family CONNECT is a linkage-to-services program that targets both family and system-level factors to increase youth use of and retention in substance use services. Using Linkage Specialists embedded within probation departments, Family CONNECT will be implemented in two NYS probation departments. This proposed study will evaluate the impact of Family CONNECT on (1) youth referral from probation to substance abuse treatment, (2) youth and family engagement in substance abuse treatment, (3) youth enrollment/retention in substance abuse treatment, and (4) youth substance use and recidivism. Counts of youth referred, youth who start treatment, and youth retained in treatment will be obtained from the juvenile justice agency for 6-months pre-implementation of Family Connect (i.e. baseline) and during the implementation period of e-Connect; counts of youth recidivism will be obtained 6 months following the completion of Family Connect. This study will also identify family and probation organizational factors influencing Family CONNECT implementation in probation settings. 50 caregiver-youth dyads and up to 36 probation officers will be recruited as participants in the study. Caregiver-youth dyads will be evaluated at baseline, 2 and 6 months; probation officers at baseline, 6, 12, and 18 months; linkage specialists at baseline, 6, 12, and 18 months.

Substance Use, Substance Abuse, Substance Use Disorders, Substance-Related Disorders, Substance Dependence, Substance Related Problem

drug use, drug addiction, drug habituation, drug use disorders, organic mental disorders, substance-induced, substance abuse, substance addiction, substance dependence, substance use disorders

This study is a randomized control trial. Caregiver-youth dyads are randomized to either the control (standard of care) or experimental (Family CONNECT) group based on the youth's probation officer (randomization occurs at the level of the youth's probation officer). If randomized to the control (standard of care) group, caregiver-youth dyads will work with their probation officer as usual to link to substance use services. If randomized to the experimental (Family CONNECT) group, caregiver-youth dyads will work with a linkage specialist to link to substance use services. Youth in both groups will be compared to a baseline stand of care collected during the pre-implementation period.

This arm is comprised of caregiver-youth dyads randomized to work with the youth's probation officer as usual to link youth to substance use services.

This arm is comprised of caregiver-youth dyads randomized to work with linkage specialists to link youth to substance use services.

Linkage specialists, who are clinical social workers and embedded within the probation departments, will work with specifically caregiver-youth dyads in the Family CONNECT arm to link youth to substance use services.

Count of youth participants enrolled in substance use treatment based on self-report or administrative records

Number of youth enrolled in any behavioral health treatment (incl. mental health and substance use) within the past 6 months

Youth: Inclusion Criteria Between 10-18 years of age English speaking A caregiver who will participate in the study MAYSI-2 score of ≥ 4 on any MAYSI-2 subscale; YASI mental health and substance use screen items; or other documented evidence of mental health or substance use problem Currently on probation Exclusion Criteria 1. Cognitively unable to complete the interview Caregiver: Inclusion criteria Youth's legal guardian (or permission from legal guardian) Youth who will participate English speaking Exclusion criteria: 1. Cognitively unable to complete the interview Probation staff: Inclusion criteria: 1. Currently employed at probation department Exclusion criterion: 1. None