If you or someone you know needs immediate mental health support in North Carolina, contact TSG Behavioral Health & Community Services at [contact number] or visit tsgbh.com for 24/7 crisis resources and telehealth appointments.
By Dr. Kerry L. Shipman, CEO, TSG Behavioral Health & Community Services
As we step into 2026, families across North Carolina (NC) are seeking fresh starts and new hope for their justice-involved youth. The intersection of mental health challenges and juvenile justice involvement creates complex needs that require specialized, evidence-based approaches. At TSG Behavioral Health & Community Services (TSG), we deliver integrated care and telehealth options that transform outcomes for young people who have encountered the justice system in NC.
Research consistently shows that approximately 70% of youth in the juvenile justice system meet criteria for a mental health disorder, yet traditional approaches often fail to address underlying psychological needs. The good news? We now have robust evidence about what actually works.
Strategy 1: Comprehensive Mental Health Assessment and Diagnosis
The foundation of effective treatment begins with rigorous mental health evaluation. Justice-involved youth require thorough assessment to identify specific mental health conditions, trauma history, and the relationship between psychological needs and justice involvement.
TSG's integrated, whole-person care model ensures that every young person in NC receives a complete diagnostic evaluation that goes beyond surface behaviors. Our coordinated team uses evidence-based assessment tools to identify conditions like ADHD, depression, anxiety, PTSD, and substance use disorders that may have contributed to justice involvement.
This comprehensive approach allows us to develop individualized treatment plans that address root causes rather than just symptoms. Through our telehealth platform, families can access these critical assessments without transportation barriers or scheduling conflicts that often delay care for justice-involved youth.
Strategy 2: Community-Based Treatment and Support Services
Research from juvenile mental health courts demonstrates that community-based interventions significantly outperform traditional detention approaches. Many youth enter the justice system primarily because appropriate community mental health services weren't available in their neighborhoods.
TSG's community-based model connects justice-involved youth across North Carolina with counseling, family therapy, and specialized treatment programs within their own communities. Our mobile crisis teams and community outreach workers meet young people where they are, reducing barriers to engagement and maintaining crucial family and peer connections.
Our virtual therapy options have proven particularly effective for justice-involved youth who may face stigma or transportation challenges. Through secure telehealth platforms, young people in NC can access regular counseling sessions, group therapy, and psychiatric consultations from home or other safe spaces.
Strategy 3: Comprehensive Family Involvement and Engagement
Sustainable recovery requires active family participation at every stage of treatment. Effective programs involve families in treatment planning, progress review, and reintegration processes, recognizing that family relationships are essential to long-term success.
TSG's family-centered approach includes specialized family therapy, parent education programs, and sibling support services. We understand that justice involvement impacts entire families, not just the individual youth. Our clinical teams work with families to rebuild trust, improve communication, and develop healthy coping strategies.
Through our telehealth services, we can include family members in treatment sessions regardless of work schedules, transportation limitations, or geographic barriers. This flexibility has proven crucial for maintaining consistent family engagement throughout the recovery process.
Strategy 4: Continuity of Care Through Pre- and Post-Release Services
One of the most critical gaps in youth outcomes occurs during transitions between correctional settings and community environments. Effective case management and transitional services help maintain connections to mental health treatment throughout these vulnerable periods.
TSG provides comprehensive case management that bridges these transitions. Our care coordinators work with youth before release to establish community mental health connections, secure housing and educational placements, and ensure medication continuity.
Our 24/7 crisis support and telehealth services provide immediate access to mental health support across NC during high-risk transition periods. This constant availability helps prevent mental health crises that could lead to re-involvement with the justice system.
Strategy 5: Trauma-Informed Approaches
Justice system involvement itself can worsen existing mental health conditions and create new trauma. Trauma-informed practices acknowledge this reality and provide youth and families with opportunities to heal from both original trauma and system-related harm.
TSG's trauma-informed care approach integrates trauma screening into all assessments, trains staff in trauma-sensitive practices, and offers specialized trauma treatment modalities. Our clinicians understand how trauma impacts brain development, emotional regulation, and decision-making in adolescents.
We provide trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, EMDR, and other evidence-based trauma treatments through both in-person and telehealth formats. This dual-delivery model ensures that trauma treatment can continue consistently regardless of placement changes or other life disruptions.
Strategy 6: Cross-System Collaboration and Reentry Planning Teams
Complex needs require coordinated responses across multiple systems. Effective programs establish formal partnerships between juvenile justice, mental health, education, and social services to address youth's multifaceted challenges.
TSG participates in cross-system reentry planning teams that coordinate resources and services for justice-involved youth. Our coordinated team approach ensures that mental health treatment aligns with educational goals, family preservation efforts, and justice system requirements.
Our integrated care model naturally facilitates this coordination by providing both primary care and behavioral health services under one umbrella. This integration reduces the burden on families to navigate multiple systems while ensuring comprehensive care coordination.
Strategy 7: Regular Progress Monitoring and Accountability
Sustained recovery requires ongoing monitoring and accountability mechanisms that maintain youth engagement while tracking improvement. Regular progress review helps sustain behavioral change and reduces recidivism both during and after program participation.
TSG employs systematic outcome measurement tools to track progress across multiple domains including mental health symptoms, functional improvement, family relationships, and justice involvement. Our data-driven approach allows for real-time treatment adjustments and ensures accountability to both youth and families.
Through our telehealth platform, we can conduct regular check-ins and progress assessments without disrupting school or work schedules. This accessibility improves engagement and allows for more frequent monitoring than traditional in-person only models.
The Evidence Base: What Research Shows
Juvenile Mental Health Courts, which incorporate these seven strategies, demonstrate significant reductions in recidivism compared to traditional juvenile probation programs. Youth who receive comprehensive, community-based mental health treatment show better outcomes across multiple measures including reduced re-arrests, improved school attendance, and enhanced family functioning.
TSG's outcomes data consistently demonstrates the effectiveness of this integrated approach. Our justice-involved youth show decreased emergency department visits, reduced psychiatric hospitalizations, and improved scores on standardized mental health measures.
A Fresh Start for 2026: Access and Hope
As we begin this new year, families have more reasons for hope than ever before. Advances in telehealth technology, trauma-informed practices, and cross-system collaboration have created new pathways to recovery for justice-involved youth.
TSG Behavioral Health & Community Services remains committed to providing evidence-based, accessible mental health services in North Carolina (NC) that address the complex needs of justice-involved youth and their families. Through our integrated care model, telehealth capabilities, and community partnerships, we're working to ensure that every young person has access to the support they need for successful reintegration and long-term wellness.
Recovery is possible. With the right strategies, support systems, and commitment to evidence-based care, justice-involved youth can overcome challenges and build healthy, productive futures. This year, let's commit to implementing what we know works and ensuring that every young person has access to comprehensive, compassionate mental health support.
For more information about TSG's services for justice-involved youth and their families, visit tsgbh.com or contact our team to discuss how our integrated care approach can support your family's unique needs.
Best regards,
Dr. Kerry L. Shipman, CEO, TSG Behavioral Health & Community Services
