The U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (2020) has a public health program titled the criminal and juvenile justice program. The program promotes early intervention and treatment as healthier alternatives to detaining people with behavioral conditions in the U.S. justice system (U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration, 2020). The objectives of the program are to identify individuals with mental and substance use disorders. In addition, the agency seeks to be able to pre- and post-adjudication using evidence-based screening and assessment to ensure comprehensive treatment, supports, and services. The agency also seeks to place a diversion of individuals from the justice system into the home- and community-based treatment. Furthermore, personnel seeks to use evidence-based and promising practices demonstrated to be less costly and more successful than treatment provided in confinement settings (U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration, 2020). This is aimed to be completed by providing training and technical assistance for law enforcement officers, juvenile and family court judges, probation officers, and other judicial decision-makers. In addition, the agency seeks assurance of equity of opportunities for diversion and linkage to community services and supports for all populations in order to decrease disproportionate minority contact with the justice system (U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration, 2020). The program to date has been effective in implementing its objectives but has also been a great source of data for researchers who are seeking to understand the justice system at greater lengths. For example, this administration has published many articles that give insight into the criminal justice and juvenile justice system and their ties with mental health outcomes. Notably, higher rates of mental health issues are strongly tied with individuals who go into the criminal justice system.The objectives here are well outlined as they give a precise way as to how the agency will reduce the human and fiscal cost and consequences of repeated arrests and incarceration for people with behavioral health issues, improved access to behavioral health. Other support services that must be made available to individuals involved in the criminal and juvenile justice systems. These objectives compare to the proposed objectives for the program and planning project because both the foreseen public health program and the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration are focused on implementing strategies to increase mental health awareness among. While the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration’ criminal and juvenile justice program is seeking to do so in all populations, this project will only seek to do so within African American boys; however, seeking the help from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration is necessary because more than likely, they have already worked with this population and can give guidance on how to best implement the foreseen public health project.References:U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (2020). Criminal and juvenile justice program. Retrieved from https://www.samhsa.gov/criminal-juvenile-justice
