A national task force has recommended policy changes at all levels of government in order to improve alcohol and drug treatment for youth in the juvenile-justice system.
 
Outlined in a new report, Model Policies for Juvenile Justice and Substance Abuse Treatment, the recommendations draw on lessons learned from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Reclaiming Futures initiative and include measures to improve policies at the federal, state, and local levels.  

The policy recommendations at the federal level included repealing regulations that prevent funding for substance abuse treatment, mandating Medicaid coverage for youth in public institutions, and changing the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJPDA) to specifically include and define substance abuse treatment services.
 
Recommendations for policy changes at the state level included requiring multi-agency collaborations in state contracts and grants and integrating cross-agency program funding. Local governments were encouraged to utilize a memorandum of understanding (MOU) across all youth-serving community institutions to support re-entry from the juvenile justice system through linkage with community services, education, employment services, and other community programs.

An independent study by the Urban Institute and the University of Chicago found that the Reclaiming Futures model is effective. 

Read the complete recommendations: Model Policies for Juvenile Justice and Substance Abuse Treatment  (PDF, 875 KB)