Urge Congress to Move on Critical Juvenile Justice Reform Legislation
Congress has just nine days to act on bringing critically important juvenile justice reform legislation forward for a vote.

A Focus Group Report: A Conversation with CIT Trained School Resource Officers
A focus group report that outlines the valuable feedback, input and thoughts School Resource Officers provided during a focus group NAMI hosted in Lake Charles, La. The report includes recommendations on topics that NAMI believes should be covered in CIT for Youth training and changes that should be made in schools and other child-serving systems to improve the school environment for SROs, school staff and all students, especially those living with mental health needs.

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.

NAMI Statement: Children in Foster Care and Medication
NAMI shared this statement at a hearing on the Financial and Societal Costs of Medicating America's Foster Children.

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

NAMI National Develops Custody Relinquishment Story Bank

What is Custody Relinquishment?