York county, in collaboration with four corners health department, proposes to integrate comprehensive mental health services to its juvenile diversion program aimed at youth ages 11 to 18

The U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) awarded a $649,994 Project Grant under the Criminal and Juvenile Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program (CFDA 16.745) to York County, Nebraska in collaboration with the Four Corners Health Department. The grant will fund the integration of comprehensive mental health services into the county's juvenile diversion program serving youth ages 11 to 18. Key services include immediate mental health assessments, around 40 hours of therapeutic services per youth, integration of restorative justice practices, and expanded health education efforts. This cross-system collaboration aims to reduce criminal justice involvement, enhance crisis intervention, and provide comprehensive support services for justice-involved youth experiencing mental health challenges in the York County community.

The york county community currently faces a critical shortage of accessible mental health resources that are crucial to addressing the mental health and substance use disorders many justice-involved youth are facing. The role of four corners health department will be pivotal in providing these services through an enhanced diversion program, which will include immediate mental health assessments, around 40 hours of therapeutic services per youth, integration of restorative justice practices, and an expansion of health education efforts.