RESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: Engaging families in behavioral health services is a high priority for juvenile justice (JJ) systems and family advocacy groups. Family-driven care (FDC) enhances family engagement and decision-making power in youth behavioral health services, ultimately, improving youth and family mental health and substance abuse outcomes. Despite the benefits, there is limited guidance on how to integrate FDC into behavioral health care within the JJ system. Therefore, the goal of this study is to understand factors that promoted adoption of FDC the JJ context. METHODS: JJ staff and leadership across the state of Georgia participated in surveys and interviews to understand contextual implementation determinants related to the adoption of FDC. Between November 2021- July 2022, 140 JJ staff participated in the survey from 61 unique JJ organizations. In addition, 16 staff participated in follow-up key informant interviews to explain quantitative findings. RESULTS: Based on a mixed methods analysis, JJ agencies were more likely to implement FDC if they had the following characteristics: (1) presence of site leaders that were strongly committed to family engagement, (2) a shared understanding that family engagement was a top priority, (3) staff training related to family engagement, (4) external partnerships with organizations that serve families, (5) a workplace culture that was supportive of innovation, and (6) presence of family engagement programs that were easier (or more feasible) for staff to implement. DISCUSSION: This mixed methods study underscores the importance of strengthening these 6 inner and outer setting implementation determinants when preparing to integrate FDC into JJ systems. Findings are used to promote the adoption and delivery of this high priority intervention in a state-level JJ system.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Improving family engagement in juvenile justice (JJ) system behavioral health services is a high priority for JJ systems, reform organizations, and family advocacy groups across the United States. Family-driven care (FDC) is a family engagement framework used by youth-serving systems to elevate family voice and decision-making power at all levels of the organization. Key domains of a family-driven system of care include: 1) identifying and involving families in all processes, 2) informing families with accurate, understandable, and transparent information, 3) collaborating with families to make decisions and plan treatments, 4) responding to family diversity and inclusion, 5) partnering with families to make organizational decisions and policy changes, 6) providing opportunities for family peer support, 7) providing logistical support to help families overcome barriers to participation, and 8) addressing family health and functioning. FDC enhances family participation, empowerment, and decision-making power in youth services; ultimately, improving youth and family behavioral health outcomes, enhancing family-child connectedness, and reducing youth recidivism in the JJ setting. METHODS: We evaluated staff-perceived adoption of the eight domains of FDC across detention and community services agencies in the state of Georgia. We collected mixed methods data involving surveys and in-depth qualitative interviews with JJ system administrators, staff, and practitioners between November 2021- July 2022. In total, 140 individuals from 61 unique JJ agencies participated in surveys; and 16 JJ key informants participated in qualitative interviews. RESULTS: FDC domains with the highest perceived adoption across agencies included identifying and involving families, informing families, collaborative decision-making and treatment planning, and family diversity and inclusion. Other domains that had mixed or lower perceived adoption included involving families in organizational feedback and policy making, family peer support, logistical support, and family health and functioning. Adoption of FDC domains differed across staff and organizational characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this mixed methods assessment will inform strategic planning for the scale-up of FDC strategies across JJ agencies in the state, and serve as a template for assessing strengths and weaknesses in the application of family engagement practices in systems nationally.