Developed from adapting and combining two evidence-based programs, Project CONNECT (a linkage-to-services program that targets barriers within the probation and substance abuse treatment systems) and TIES (a program that teaches family engagement skills to providers), Family CONNECT is a linkage-to-services program that targets both family and system-level factors to increase youth use of and retention in substance use services. Using Linkage Specialists embedded within probation departments, Family CONNECT will be implemented in two NYS probation departments. This proposed study will evaluate the impact of Family CONNECT on (1) youth referral from probation to substance abuse treatment, (2) youth and family engagement in substance abuse treatment, (3) youth enrollment/retention in substance abuse treatment, and (4) youth substance use and recidivism. Counts of youth referred, youth who start treatment, and youth retained in treatment will be obtained from the juvenile justice agency for 6-months pre-implementation of Family Connect (i.e. baseline) and during the implementation period of e-Connect; counts of youth recidivism will be obtained 6 months following the completion of Family Connect. This study will also identify family and probation organizational factors influencing Family CONNECT implementation in probation settings. 50 caregiver-youth dyads and up to 36 probation officers will be recruited as participants in the study. Caregiver-youth dyads will be evaluated at baseline, 2 and 6 months; probation officers at baseline, 6, 12, and 18 months; linkage specialists at baseline, 6, 12, and 18 months.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
22
Linkage specialists, who are clinical social workers and embedded within the probation departments, will work with specifically caregiver-youth dyads in the Family CONNECT arm to link youth to substance use services.
Youth Enrolled in Substance Use Treatment
Count of youth participants enrolled in substance use treatment based on self-report or administrative records
Time frame: Two years (study implementation period)
Youth Enrolled in Any Behavioral Health Treatment
Number of youth enrolled in any behavioral health treatment (incl. mental health and substance use) within the past 6 months
Time frame: Two years (study implementation period)
Youth Referred for Substance Use Treatment
Number of youth referred to substance use treatment
Time frame: Two years (study implementation period)
Youth Referred for Any Behavioral Health Treatment
Number of youth who are referred to any behavioral health treatment
Time frame: two years (implementation period)
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