How Mental Health Services Work at Duval Regional Juvenile Detention Center: Screening, Assessment, and Crisis Support

Mental health services at Duval Regional Juvenile Detention Center come from a private provider contracted by the Department. This means licensed professionals deliver care - not custody staff handling things informally.

You may hear staff mention the Designated Mental Health Authority, or DMHA. This is a licensed mental health professional who helps organize and oversee mental health services at the facility.

Mental health staff do more than provide counseling. They screen youth for mental health concerns, substance abuse, and suicide risk - then follow up with assessments, treatment, and crisis intervention when needed. The goal is catching problems early and responding quickly when situations become urgent.

1. Complete intake screening - As part of intake, youth go through the initial mental health/needs screening process.
2. Participate in the CAT Pre-Screen interview - All youth receive a CAT (Community Assessment Tool) Pre-Screen interview, and the initial assessment takes about 20–25 minutes.

The CAT Pre-Screen flags youth who may need deeper evaluation. Anyone scoring Moderate-High or High risk gets a more thorough follow-up called the CAT Full Assessment.

When a youth completes the CAT Full Assessment, the information gathered can be used to build an individualized plan based on the youth’s specific needs. The Department refers to this as the Youth Empowered Success (YES) Plan, and it’s designed to reflect what the Full Assessment identifies.

Immediate Help

• ✓ Stay in contact with your child’s Juvenile Probation Officer (JPO) and share any immediate mental health or safety concerns you have.
• ✓ Contact the Central Communications Center (CCC) to help relay information related to your child’s care, safety, and humane treatment.
• ✓ Use the CCC to report urgent concerns when appropriate; the CCC operates seven days a week, including holidays.