This report focuses on well-being outcomes in urban, poor, and minority communities, particularly African American communities. Throughout this discussion, the analysis will be applied to black men. That said, much of the proposed framework can be applied to men in general, although admittedly, references to culture and race will need to be modified to consider the identity and experience of other groups of men in the context of their community identities, histories, and cultures.

This paper examines emerging strategies and models for effective treatment and support for young people in the juvenile justice system. It clarifies Medicaid regulations that affect states’ ability to deliver vital health services in a timely manner as young people enter and leave the juvenile justice system. And it offers guidance to state legislators, mental health and juvenile justice professionals, as well as others who are working to provide the wide range of health services needed by young people in the juvenile justice system.

During the past twenty-five years, a series of public policies have had a negative impact upon young men from communities of color.

During the past twenty-five years, a significant amount of attention has been devoted to the issues of teen sexual activity and pregnancy, especially in communities of color.

To assess and ultimately help meet the needs of youth who age out of foster care in the United States, the Joint Center Health Policy Institute (JCHPI)—with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and in partnership with the Black Administrators in Child Welfare Inc. (BACW)—conducted reconnaissance on the unmet needs of these youth. This project was undertaken to guide the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in thinking about steps they might take to help meet the needs of youth who age out of foster care in this country. Conducting a literature review, a telephone survey, and listening sessions enabled us to develop insights into the workings of the foster care system and the experiences of youth while in the system and when aging out of it.

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The executive summary for this publication can be found here.