The National Youth Screening & Assessment Project (NYSAP) is a technical assistance and research center dedicated to improving juvenile justice and mental health services. NYSAP is located at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, with support by a grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.
Since 2000, NYSAP has provided assistance to juvenile justice programs nationwide in their implementation of mental health screening and assessment, especially with the Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument – Second Version (MAYSI-2).
Beginning in 2006, NYSAP’s purposes and objectives were redesigned in relation to a new initiative of the MacArthur Foundation, called “Models for Change: Systems Reform in Juvenile Justice.” NYSAP now has four primary purposes:
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Nationwide assistance in implementing the MAYSI-2 for mental health screening in juvenile justice programs
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Technical assistance to juvenile justice programs on mental health, risk, and needs screening and assessment practices, for targeted states participating in the MacArthur Foundation’s “Models for Change” Initiative.
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Nationwide assistance for states reforming their laws, practices and forensic evaluations regarding juveniles’ competence to stand trial
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Research to improve mental health, risk and needs screening and assessment in juvenile justice settings
Contact us to inquire about assistance from NYSAP on MAYSI-2, MAYSIWARE, and other youth mental health, risk and needs screening and assessment questions in juvenile justice programs.
NYSAP Personnel and Consultants
Thomas Grisso, Ph.D. is Director of NYSAP with Co-Directors Gina Vincent, Ph.D. and Valerie Williams, M.A., M.S.
Kimberly Larson, J.D., Ph.D. and Albert Grudzinskas, J.D., manage law-related activities of NYSAP.
Laura Guy, Ph. D. is a consultant for NYSAP in areas related to risk assessment.
Coordinators and managers of various activities in NYSAP include: Rebecca Nelson, M.A. and Amy Thornton, B.S.
Primary consultants to NYSAP include Joseph Cocozza, Ph.D. (Director, National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice) and Edward Loughran (Director, Council of Juvenile Correctional Administrators).
