Stepping Up for Youth: Improving Behavioral Health Outcomes in the Juvenile Justice System

Hosted by The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center

Discover how Kansas is leading the way in improving outcomes for youth with behavioral health needs who encounter the juvenile justice system—and how a coordinated state and local approach can be used to identify, implement, and expand best practices for community-based services, cross-system collaboration, and resource efficiency. 

Kansas is the first state in the nation to launch a Stepping Up for Youth initiative—adapted from a model originally designed to divert adults with serious mental illness from jail. Building on its success with adults, Kansas is now using Stepping Up to advance cross-system state policy and develop innovative local solutions for the juvenile justice system.  

This webinar will highlight strategies to:

• Implement behavioral health screenings and services in detention; 

• Build a youth early intervention system;  

• Establish statewide detention standards; and 

• Improve support and outcomes for young people. 

This webinar is intended for people working in or with the behavioral health, juvenile justice, and/or child welfare systems at the local, regional, or state level. 

Speakers 

• Ashley Brown, Crossover Youth Policy and Practice Coordinator, Kansas Department for Children and Families 

• Dr. Megan Davidson, Program Director, Behavioral Health, CSG Justice Center 

• Destini Gillian, Justice Involved Services Coordinator, Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services 

• Clay McCarter, Director of Special Projects/Early Intervention, Kansas Department of Corrections 

• Mario Salinas, Deputy Director of Juvenile Programs, Sedgwick County Department of Corrections 

• Stephanie Ueberall, Deputy Program Director, Corrections and Reentry, CSG Justice Center