Transitional Youth

Medicaid is important to juvenile justice-involved youth both as a health care financing mechanism and as a way to access physical and behavioral health services. The National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP), with the support of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, is working with the Models for Change grantee organizations and state policymakers to address the health needs of youth in the juvenile justice system. This issue brief from NASHP is the first in a series that highlights findings from surveys of juvenile justice and Medicaid agencies in order to determine policies around health care and Medicaid for youth involved in the juvenile justice system. The paper focuses on findings related to inter-agency collaboration, as well as educating juvenile justice agencies and staff about Medicaid policies, and data collection about the population both agencies serve.

Juvenile justice agencies face a significant challenge meeting the health needs of the youth in their systems. Medicaid, which provides health coverage to more than half of all low-income children in this country, can be a vital partner in juvenile justice reform efforts. However, coordination between juvenile justice systems and state Medicaid programs can be much improved. It may help many juvenile justice officials to learn more about Medicaid and how it can be used to improve their programs and the lives of the young people they work with. The purpose of this State Health Policy Briefing is to provide those who work with system-involved youth with an introduction to Medicaid and its key concepts, as they pertain to the juvenile justice system.