Lessons Learned: Challenges and Strategies for Conducting Family-Based Intervention Research in Juvenile Justice Settings

Abstract

Greater than 60% of youths in the juvenile justice system have a diagnosable mental health disorder, with substance use-related and addictive disorders being among the most common mental health disorders.¹ Research studies have shown that family-based interventions targeting substance use-related and addictive disorders have two to nine times greater effect sizes compared with individual-based interventions.² Family-based interventions, most notably, functional family therapy,³ multidimensional family therapy,⁴ and multisystemic therapy,⁵ have been shown to reduce substance use among justice-involved youths. Given the complex and multiple demands facing justice-involved youths, conducting family-based research within juvenile justice populations can be challenging. This article provides insights into the operational challenges and innovative strategies to address these challenges to conduct family-based intervention research with reentry youths.