Research indicates that approximately 5,300 of Shelby County children and youth with a serious emotional disturbance are not accessing the TennCare funded mental and behavioral treatment they need, and to which they are entitled. In fact, children and youth in Shelby County use services at a much lower rate than other Tennessee communities, despite a relatively high level of poverty and other factors associated with poor mental and behavioral health.

At the same time, more children and youth with untreated mental and behavioral needs now enter what has disturbingly become the community "safety net" - the juvenile justice and/or State foster care system. Fragmented system logistics, cultural barriers and a traditional medical treatment model all get in the way of children and youth getting appropriate services.

Children and youth with mental and behavioral health issues must be treated in the context of their families and communities. In addition to medical treatment, these children and families often need social, educational, recreational, physical, and vocational support. Although Shelby County doesn't have such a system of care today, JustCare is working to change this.

JustCare for Kids is the first comprehensive partnership of all Shelby County stakeholders that need to be at the table to ensure a comprehensive approach - families, treatment providers and government agencies, including juvenile justice, children's services, and the schools. Working together, these stakeholders have the power to establish a family-centered, community-based approach that can improve health outcomes and decrease the number of children and youth entering acute care facilities, the juvenile justice system and State foster care.