Integrated Youth Service Preferences of Caregivers of Justice-Involved Youth: A Discrete Choice Conjoint Experiment

Introduction: Mental health and/or substance use (MHS) challenges affect approximately 95% of youth in the criminal justice system, with only three in ten justice-involved youth receiving treatment. Caregivers of justice-involved youth have identified fragmented care as a barrier to youth accessing MHS services. One suggested solution to this problem is the implementation of integrated youth services (IYS). However, it is unknown which IYS components caregivers of justice-involved youth prioritize. Methods: Using a discrete choice conjoint experiment (DCE), n = 46 caregivers of justice-involved youth, and n = 204 caregivers of non-justice-involved, completed thirteen choice tasks representing different combinations of IYS. Results: Both caregiver groups exhibited preferences for involvement and access to information regarding their youth's treatment, and fast access to broad range of core health and additional services, in a community setting, with the incorporation of e-health services. Caregivers of justice-involved youth showed a unique preference for involvement in family counseling with their youth. The incorporation of this service feature may help to engage caregivers of justice-involved youth in their youths' MHS treatment 3-fold. Conclusion: Data gleaned from this analysis provides an understanding of what components of IYS models may help to engage caregivers of justice-involved youth.