Youth Mental Health Court

To be eligible for the OPJC-YMHC the youth must be willing to acknowledge accountability and to engage with any community services and/or treatment plan recommended during the process via the OPJC Mental Health Court Contract. The multi-disciplinary team (MDT) reviews all referrals and decides on eligibility. In assessing eligibility, the MDT will consider program criteria, reasons for referral, the nature of the offense, and prior offenses.

WHO IS IT FOR?

The Court serves youth ages 12-17 (or older if charges occurred before their 18th birthday) who are in conflict with the law and have one or more of a diagnosable: a mental health disorder (including substance use disorders), developmental need (including acquired brain injury), or chronic behavioral problem.

The eligibility Criteria are as follows:

  1. Open Case in Orleans Parish Juvenile Court
  2. Diagnosed or Identified Mental/Behavioral Health Condition
    • Clinical Disorders • Serious Mental Illness (SMI)
    • Anxiety • Personality
  3. NO CRIMES OF VIOLENCE
  4. Acceptance into program by eligibility committee
  5. Youth and family (parent/guardian) must consent to participate via OPJC Mental Health Court Contract

THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE OPJC-YMHC INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:

  • Determining whether referred youth are appropriate for the program.
  • Identifying the mental health needs of presenting youth.
  • Facilitating referrals to community and cultural-based mental health resources and services.
  • Providing information and support to family members and caregivers.
  • Providing support and monitoring of youth’s progress while under supervision.
  • Credible Messenger Transformative Mentoring.

THE OPJC-YMHC IS NOT:

  • A crisis response. The Court is NOT set up to provide immediate assessment or assistance.
  • An automatic pathway to obtain medical or psychological assessment. These assessments MAY be ordered for some youth, but not all.
  • To be confused with youth diversion.

REFERRAL PROCESS:

  1. Referrals are made by the Judges of each section of Orleans Parish Juvenile Court with the consent of the District Attorney and LCCR.
  2. Referrals for the OPJC-YMHC will be made through the referral/intake form (via DigiCourt) by the Youth and Family Specialists of each section of Court or designated court personnel.
  3. The Youth and Family Specialists will then submit the form (via pin) to the Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) for OPJC-YMHC.
  4. The LCSW will contact the youth and family within 24 hours to complete the intake and assessment process.
  5. Once the intake and assessment is complete, the LCSW forwards the file to the MDT to review for eligibility.

YMHC ADMISSION HEARING:

At the first hearing in the YMHC, as the YMHC Admission Hearing, the judge will welcome you to the YMHC and explain how the YMHC works. You will be provided with YMHC Family Guide.

Judge questions to verify understanding that:

  1. The YMHC will not be setting your case for trial and the YMHC Judge will not be deciding your guilt or innocence of the charges in your delinquency case;
  2. The YMHC will assist you in getting access to, and the benefit of, mental health treatment, starting with getting connected to mental health services, if you are not already linked to a qualified mental health provider, and will also help to address and substance use issue that may present;
  3. Once you are linked to and actively engaged in receiving mental health services and test negative for drugs including marijuana and alcohol, you will be given the opportunity to have case proceed pursuant to a Deferred Disposition Agreement (Ch.C.Art. 896) or Informal Adjustment Agreement (Ch.C.Art. 839).

THREE PHASES OF OPJC-YMHC:

PHASE 1 – Introduction to “Orleans Parish Healing Centered Cultural Continuum” - OPJC-YMHC. Develop an individualized treatment plan, complete assessments inclusive of life skills. Case manager will monitor plan (including home and school visits) – youth and family to attend Court every other Thursday. Incentives are given for compliance and improvements. Intermittent group projects, including social interaction.

PHASE 2 – Case Manager will continue to monitor plan. Home and school visits will continue. Court one (1) time per month if compliant. Incentives are given for compliance and improvements. Intermittent group projects, including social interaction.

PHASE 3 – Court one (1) time per month until completion. Incentives are given for compliance and improvements. Intermittent group projects, including social interaction. Large incentive at Graduation.

GRADUATION FROM THE YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH COURT PROGRAM.