The Reauthorization of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act Statement of Principles
NAMI signed onto a Statement of Principles urging Congress to adhere to several key principles when approaching the Reauthorization of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA).

Residential Treatment Programs: Concerns Regarding Abuse and Death in Certain Programs for Troubled Youth

Blueprint for Change: A Model for Youth Mental HealthCare in Juvenile Justice Systems
The National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice has released the Blueprint for Change: A Comprehensive Model for the Identification and Treatment of Youth with Mental Health Needs in Contact with the Juvenile Justice System.

Juvenile Detention Centers: Are They Warehousing Children with Mental Illnesses?
NAMI's statement on the use of Juvenile Detention Centers to serve as mental health facilities for children and adolescents with mental illnesses.

NAMI Calls for Juvenile Justice Reform
Find out what you can do to prevent children with mental illnesses from ending up in the Juvenile Justice System for treatment.

Child Welfare & Juvenile Justice GAO Report
This report from the U.S. General Accounting Office includes facts and statistics regarding children who are placed in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems in order to receive mental health services. It also identifies promising state and local practices that may reduce the need for such placements.

Custody Relinquishment

The practice of separating children from their families in order to secure mental health treatment happens to tens of thousands of children and families every year, according to well-documented reports.  This section contains resources and support concerning the unthinkable practice of forcing families to give up custody of their child to access mental healthcare.

Avoiding Cruel Choices: A Guide for Policymakers and Family Organizations on Medicaid's Role in Preventing Custody Relinquishment

Support The Keeping Families Together Act (S. 382/H.R. 687)
Help end the scandal of parents and caregivers being forced to give up custody of their child for the sole purpose of accessing mental health services.

NAMI National Develops Custody Relinquishment Story Bank

What is Custody Relinquishment?