The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), which was signed into law in 2010, has several provisions that could greatly improve the behavioral health of children and adolescents in the United States. It requires that many insurance plans cover mental health and substance use disorder services, rehabilitative services to help support people with behavioral […]
Policy
Psychosocial Interventions for Mental and Substance Use Disorders: A Framework for Establishing Evidence-Based Standards
Mental health and substance use disorders affect approximately 20 percent of Americans and are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Although a wide range of evidence-based psychosocial interventions are currently in use, most consumers of mental health care find it difficult to know whether they are receiving high-quality care. Although the current evidence base for […]
Health Insurance Disparities and the Affordable Care Act: Where Could Inequality Decline?
In 2014, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) increased access to health insurance for millions of Americans. Based on income, some people may receive subsidies and tax credits to buy insurance, while others may qualify for Medicaid in certain states. Could these changes help to reduce disparities in health insurance? How could Medicaid […]
Juvenile Drug Courts: A Process, Outcome, and Impact Evaluation
The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) has released “Juvenile Drug Courts: A Process, Outcome, and Impact Evaluation.” This bulletin provides an overview of an OJJDP-sponsored evaluation of juvenile drug court intervention programs, their processes, and key outcomes. The authors examined the effectiveness of nine juvenile drug courts in reducing recidivism and improving youth’s […]
Juvenile Justice Reform in Connecticut: How Collaboration and Commitment Have Improved Public Safety and Outcomes for Youth
Over the past two decades, a tremendous volume of new knowledge has emerged about causes of adolescent delinquency and the effective responses. Through research and policy experimentation, scholars and practitioners have proven that several new approaches significantly improve outcomes for youth who become involved in delinquency, thereby enhancing public safety and saving taxpayers’ money. These advances provide public officials with […]
The State of Latinos in the Deep South: Challenges & Opportunities
Latinos/Hispanics continue to be one of the fastest growing population in Southern states, and the entire nation. The Southern region faces unique challenges and opportunities for Latinos in all areas that impact the overall state of Latino day-to-day life and health conditions. The Latinos in the Deep South Program of the Latino Commission on AIDS […]