Juvenile Justice-Involved Youth: Preventive Health Services Received Prior to Detention

Few studies on youth in the juvenile justice system describe preventive services received at community health visits. We determined preventive services received at their most recent visit to a health care provider through a cross-sectional survey of youth at a detention center. Data on their health outcomes were abstracted from medical records. Many did not receive comprehensive screenings for sexual health, mental health symptoms, or substance use at well-child visits in the past year. Health outcomes were not significantly different from those who did not attend a well visit in the past year. Limited preventive screenings could explain why well checks did not influence health outcomes; therefore, providers should incorporate recommended screenings into sick visits as well as preventive visits.