Alaska Evidence-Based Substance Abuse and Mental Health Treatment Services

Section 101 of the Second Chance Act authorizes the Department of Justice to award grants to states, units of local government, and tribal governments to improve reentry outcomes for incarcerated youth. Under the Second Chance Act Ensuring Public Safety and Improving Outcomes for Youth in Confinement and While Under Community Supervision program, Category 1: Implementing Evidence-Based Substance Abuse and Mental Health Treatment Services will support states, units of local government, and tribes to improve and expand the provision of evidence-based, trauma-informed treatment services for youth with co-occurring substance abuse problems and mental health disorders, including addressing behavioral health impacts and criminogenic needs while in secure confinement and during pre-and post-release.

The State of Alaska-Division of Juvenile Justice (ADJJ) will improve services for youth involved in Alaska’s juvenile justice system who are experiencing a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health diagnosis. This project is a statewide initiative with efforts targeting refinement of services in communities with a broad range of service options and resource development. ADJJ will improve services for youth experiencing a substance abuse and mental health diagnosis by (1) engaging in system improvement efforts to ensure that youth with a substance abuse and mental health diagnosis have access to appropriate treatment and transitional supports while under ADJJ supervision, both within detention and treatment facilities and while under community supervision; (2) evaluating the ADJJ facility and probation services to ensure that youth with severe and/or chronic mental illness have access to appropriate treatment, supports, and community resources while receiving treatment within the facility and during reentry; and (3) evaluating ADJJ’s facility and probation services to ensure that youth who commit violent offenses have access to appropriate and specialized treatment, supports, and community resources while receiving treatment within the facility and during reentry. CA/NCF