Adolescents in contact with the juvenile justice system are an underserved, vulnerable population in great need of health promotion and disease prevention services. This presentation will report findings from a study of the physical and mental health needs of 650 male and female adolescents interviewed in juvenile detention facilities across California in 1996. Preliminary data from a second study of 800 juveniles in the California Youth Authority in its third year will also be reported. Promising public health nursing interventions for this population in California and across the nation will be described. Finally, the moral and ethical responsibility of public health nursing to provide care for juvenile offenders, as well as new sources of funding for these services will be discussed.
Support for these studies was provided by the National Institute of Justice, the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs, and the Office of Criminal Justice Planning.
Learning Objectives: At the end of this session participants will be able to: (1) describe the major physical and mental health needs of adolescents in contact with the juvenile justice system, (2) identify promising public health nursing interventions to meet the needs of juvenile offenders, and (3) articulate the moral and ethical responsiblity of public health nursing to engage in health promotion and disease prevention interventions with this vulnerable population
Keywords: Adolescent Health, Vulnerable Populations
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.