From Juvenile Hall to Clinical Care: De-Escalating Youth Trauma Through Deflection Pathways

• By: Joel K. Johnson, MEd Treatment Alternatives for Stronger Communities (TASC)
• October 12th, 2026
• 1115 Medicaid waivers, behavioral health services, care management, child and adolescent behavioral health, criminal justice system, cross-system coordination, deflection, early intervention, Fall 2026 Issue, juvenile justice, Medicaid funding, mental health, mental health diversion, pre-arrest diversion, substance use disorder, SUD, trauma-informed care, warm handoff protocols, youth deflection, youth detention
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This article examines how youth deflection differs from traditional diversion, and how behavioral health leaders are using deflection programs to de-escalate trauma and keep adolescents out of the justice system. Communities increasingly seek preventive alternatives to juvenile detention. Seven...

Shifting the Weight: Addressing Substance Use Disorder in Nursing

• By: Timothy Arehart, JD National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN)
• August 31st, 2026
• alternative to discipline, drug diversion, NCSBN, nursing, patient safety, substance use disorder, SUD, workforce
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Substance use disorder (SUD) impacts both the individual experiencing it and everyone in their life. SUD does not discriminate and affects people from all walks of life, regardless of age, occupation, economic circumstances, ethnic background, or gender. Healthcare professionals are not immune, but...