JUDGE TEODOSIO INVITED TO  MEETING OF NATIONAL LEADERS

Summit County Juvenile Court Judge Linda Tucci Teodosio will be attending a meeting hosted by the National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice on Wednesday, May 31^st. Judge Teodosio will be part of a small group of national leaders in the area of juvenile justice and mental health..

 The breakfast meeting will focus on a new initiative from the host organization, The National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice (NCMHJJ). The topic will be: Blueprint for Change: A Comprehensive Model for the Identification and Treatment of Youth with Mental Health Needs in Contact with the Juvenile Justice System.

 Research has established that many youth in the juvenile justice system suffer from mental health issues. A great majority of these youth also suffer from the co-occurring disorder of substance dependence. It is these co-occurring disorders that compelled Judge Teodosio to create the Court’s Crossroads Program, an intensive probation program aimed at youth who suffer from mental health and substance use issues.

 In the last two years, the program has gained the attention of a variety of professional organizations nationwide who have asked the Court to present at numerous national conferences regarding the methods used in implementing and operating the Crossroads Program.

 “Being invited to take part in this discussion further validates what we are trying to achieve with the Crossroads Program,” said Judge Teodosio. “I also hope to learn about ways to expand our services to better serve the youth in Summit County.