Racial disparities in the juvenile justice system are growing even as youth arrest rates decline overall. Black youth face particularly egregious disparities. Inequity in the provision of mental health services on the basis of race before, during, and after incarceration negatively impacts the health, well-being, employment opportunities, educational attainment, and relationships of individuals of color who are or were system-involved.

From 2003 to 2013, the racial gap between detained Black and white youth increased by 15 percent.

Black youth involved in the juvenile justice system are half as likely to be screened for mental health issues.

Black males are 32 percent less likely to receive psychiatric care than white males.

With a grant from the William T. Grant Foundation, iThrive is undertaking a project to increase understanding of the lived experiences of youth of color within juvenile detention centers. The project uses iThrive's co-design approach to authentically engage with youth and explore opportunities and barriers to supporting their mental health within the juvenile justice system. Learn more about our work co-designing with youth who have lived experience in the cradle-to-prison pipeline.