The impact of managed behavioral health care on youth in the juvenile justice system

The purpose of this study was to describe how managed behavioral health care affects youth in the juvenile justice system with behavioral health disorders. A multiple case study consisting of 30 semistructured interviews of officials in the local, state, and federal juvenile justice system was performed. The study found that agreement exists among officials that managed behavioral health care acts as a barrier to behavioral health care for juvenile justice youth. A major conclusion of the study was that the relinquishment of youth custody to the state for the purpose of accessing behavioral services must cease.