Success Stories

Jose

Jose’, a 17-year old Latino youth, living in the suburbs of Chicago, was referred to a local youth services agency -- one of the Juvenile Justice / Mental Health Initiative (JJMHI) Service Sites -- after being arrested at school for possession of marijuana. He had a history of conflict at school, had run away from home on several occasions, and would often threaten school staff members. At the JJMHI Service Site Jose’ was assessed by a State of Illinois-licensed Qualified Mental Health Practitioner (QMHP), who diagnosed paranoid, suicidal and homicidal tendencies.

Jose’s mental illness was so severe that he was unable to focus on the cognitive-behavioral group sessions that were typically provided in the local youth agency’s continuum of juvenile justice programming. The battery of delinquency-risk and mental health assessments, made possible by the enhanced services of the JJMHI, indicated that Jose’ would best be served as an in-patient at a psychiatric hospital. Unfortunately, the hospital prematurely discharged the youth because they did not have a QMHP on staff who spoke Spanish.

The local youth services agency, however, was able to provide the requisite individual and family therapy in Jose’s native tongue, and also connected him with a therapeutic day school. The youth agency worked with the school to develop the youth’s treatment plan, and, through JJMHI, continues to provide access to a psychiatrist for medication management, as well as weekly, intensive mental health counseling services with a QMHP.

Mark

Mark is a 16 year old who is chronically mentally ill. At an early age he was diagnosed with a co-existing disorder of depression and bipolar disorder, and has spent a year on a wait list for a residential facility. Mark’s father who is also mentally ill, often had difficulty coping with conflict which would escalate into domestic violence. Conflicts often ended when the police would be called, the police would have Mark stay overnight at the hospital and bring him home the following day. Social services got involved with the McDonald family and were considering placing Mark in DCFS until space became available within a residential facility.

Mark was referred to JJMHI after indicated suicidal ideation on a screening instrument. Because Mark lives in a rural area obtaining treatment for his existing mental health diagnoses required a thirty to forty five minute drive his father and step-mother were not willing to make. JJMHI funding enabled licensed therapists to provide intensive therapeutic services, by going to Mark’s family and school three times a week. This individual and family counseling gave Mark and his parents the coping skills to avoid DCF custody. In June Mark’s moved into a residential facility in Chicago.

Lisa & Tina

Two sisters, ages 15 and 16, were habitually truant and assaulting their father. The JJMHI funding enabled the local agency to support them so that they are now attending school regularly and participating in family counseling with a licensed mental health provider. One of the girls, diagnosed with sickle cell anemia is now also attending a support group. Neither of the girls have re-offended, and are now living with other family members.