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Behavioral Health Screening & Treatment Linkage

Pipeline 02B

Transparency note: behavioral health data coverage varies by provider participation and consent requirements. Missing assessments or unlinked treatment records are annotated as partial coverage in datasets.

Overview

Behavioral health needs—mental health, trauma, and substance use—are common among youth entering the justice system. Most jurisdictions now screen at intake and use standardized tools to guide referrals to assessment and treatment. Continuity of care, both within facilities and upon release, depends on coordination between probation, treatment providers, and health systems. This page describes measurable elements in that linkage process.

What We Track

Screening

  • Record timing of screening
    • At intake
    • At detention
    • At court
  • Document tools used (note version)
    • MAYSI-2
    • CRAFFT
    • GAIN-SS
  • Track coverage rate among new intakes (numerator/denominator)

Assessment & Referral

  • Proportion of screened youth referred for full clinical assessment
  • Time to first appointment from screening (days)

Service Delivery

  • Capture type of care
    • Outpatient
    • Inpatient / residential
    • Group
    • Medication management
  • Record dosage (sessions, weeks, service hours)
  • Track completion rates by episode

Continuity of Care

  • Proportion with active treatment at release
  • Confirmed community linkage within 14 days post-release

Confidentiality & Integration

  • Data-sharing frameworks under HIPAA / 42 CFR Part 2 observed
  • Consent practices documented (scope, duration, revocation)
  • Participation in integrated care platforms (registry/portal/API link)

Typical Flow

  1. Screening at intake or detention for mental health and substance use concerns
    • Apply MAYSI-2 / CRAFFT / GAIN-SS; note tool version and missing items
    • Flag immediate safety concerns and stabilization needs
  2. Assessment by licensed clinician for youth with elevated scores
    • Schedule within target window; record days from screen → assessment
    • Document diagnosis/clinical impressions and service recommendation
  3. Referral & initiation of services — on-site or community-based — matched to level of care
    • Obtain informed consent; transmit referral packet via approved channel
    • Record first appointment date and initial attendance
  4. Progress monitoring via treatment notes, attendance, and reassessment
    • Track dosage delivered vs. planned
    • Update risk/needs or clinical measures at defined intervals
  5. Transition planning and warm handoff to community provider post-release
    • Confirm active treatment at release and linkage within 14 days
    • Share aftercare plan (meds, appointments, contacts) per consent & MOUs

Data & Methods

Behavioral health indicators use youth-level records with flags for screening, assessment, and service engagement. Denominators vary by stage (e.g., intakes for screening, referrals for engagement). Continuity-of-care rates track confirmed appointments within 14 days of release. When instruments or scoring rules change, series breaks are marked per Series Breaks & Definition Changes. Data linkage and confidentiality protocols follow Data Linkage & Integration and Data Privacy & Disclosure Control. For risk/needs framework context, see Risk Assessment Tools.

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