Table 2 Youth and caregivers’ experiences of representative quotes

Caregivers felt “out of the loop” during detention

“I was not aware of any type of screening that took place and no real information once they [youth] came here. I did get a call that pretty much stated your son is here, he’s been admitted, you can talk to him for a few moments, you will be receiving information in the mail as to your court date and we’ll call you when you can come pick him up here, estimated time frame. I have no idea about any type of process that took place there.”

-Caregiver of 15 year old male

Detention as crisis event

Interviewer: “How did your experience in juvenile detention affect you receiving counseling services?”

Youth: “It helped me because some people, when they say they go in there, oh I just went in there because my parents told me so. Well I actually went in there with something to actually get off my chest. When I went in there it was like I had to struggle and when I had to struggle, if I tried to talk to somebody and then when I really look at it, it would be like, man they don’t really care. Then when I went to counseling she cared and then after they saw me getting better then that's when I thought that they started to care and I think me going to counseling was the biggest change that I had in my whole entire life because usually I don’t talk to nobody.”

-13 year old female

Waiting period after re-entry- Delays in care can lead to adoption of past behaviors

“I was, like, I want to get help all I can and so I was thinking it at the time [detention], but when I got out and I started doing more stuff, I mean, like, I didn’t want to go to counselling, wake up all the time and go to counselling.”

-14 year old male

Systemic coordination

“I do it [counseling] because I have to. My mom thinks I need it. Court thinks I need it. Everybody else thinks I need it, so why not take it then if everybody thinks it going to help?”

-16 year old male

Systemic coordination – Key role of probation officer

Interviewer: “Did you know how to get counseling?”

Youth: “No, my probation officer had set it up and he gave the lady my mom’s number and she called, set up and appointment, and she came and we met for the first time. She is really nice.”

-16 year old female

Systemic coordination – Caregivers’ support

“Well originally it [my father’s attitude toward mental health care] was like a negative. I don’t care, you’re basically forcing me to go there. So I’m not even going to listen to what the dude’s saying but then me and that dude had the talk. I then talked to my dad about it and now he usually tries to be more positive when talking about it. He’ll usually let me know 20 minutes before I have to go and if he has time he’ll usually drive me. He always picks me up now but I guess after I talked to him he was basically, okay I’ll see this as a good thing instead of just you’re just a bad kid going to your counseling class because that’s what it was at first.”

-16 year old male