Caregiver and Juvenile Justice Personnel Perspectives on challenges and importance of caregiver engagement and the potential utility of a peer navigator program in the Juvenile Justice System

For youth involved in the juvenile justice (JJ) system, caregiver involvement and engagement in the system is crucial for youth development and outcomes of JJ cases; however, there are challenges to establishing positive/productive partnerships between caregivers and JJ representatives. The current project examines perspectives of caregivers and JJ personnel regarding facilitators and barriers to establishing…

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Prevention of Opioid Use and Disorder Among Youth Involved in the Legal System: Innovation and Implementation of Four Studies Funded by the NIDA HEAL Initiative

Youth involved in the legal system (YILS) experience rates of opioid and substance use disorders (OUD/SUDs) and overdose that is well above those in the general population. Despite the dire need, and the existing programs that focus on treatment of these problems in YILS, research on opioid initiation, and OUD prevention, including feasibility and sustainability,…

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Antecedents of Fatal Overdose in an Adult Cohort Identified through Administrative Record Linkage in Indiana, 2015-2022

The United States continues to experience unprecedented rates of overdose mortality and need to identify effective policies or practices that can be implemented. This study aims to measure the prevalence, frequency, timing, and rate of touchpoints that occurred prior to a fatal overdose where communities might intervene. In collaboration with Indiana state government, we conducted…

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Testing a Learning Health System in Juvenile Justice Settings (036)

This study aims to improve treatment linkages and care coordination within the eight juvenile justice systems across Indiana. To address current gaps, the study is implementing a Learning Health System (LHS) to improve collaboration between juvenile justice agencies and community mental health centers, using interagency data-sharing to help identify gaps and opportunities to implement evidence-based interventions.

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