The increased attention recently accorded the mental health needs of youth in the juvenile justice system, noted by Joseph Cocozza and Kathleen Skowyra, is as welcome as it is overdue. We need to learn much more about "Youth With Mental Health Disorders" who are involved with the juvenile justice system so that we may enhance the quality of the services provided them.

Solving these problems requires designing and implementing effective treatment models. "Wraparound Milwaukee," as Bruce Kamradt reports, has successfully integrated a broad array of services to better serve youth with mental health needs who have been adjudicated delinquent. I am sure you will find this program and its results of interest.

The mental health needs of juveniles in custody is another area of concern to juvenile justice practitioners that needs to be addressed. Suicide is a particularly disturbing manifestation of unmet mental health needs, especially when it occurs during confinement. Lindsay Hayes offers constructive recommendations for "Suicide Prevention in Juvenile Facilities" and for providing mental health services to the youth confined in those facilities.

As the above articles illustrate, youth challenged with interrelated mental health disorders and delinquent behaviors need our help to get their lives back on track. OJJDP has included a number of initiatives and programs to this end in its Comprehensive Plan for Fiscal Year 2000, which are described in the journal's In Brief section.

It is my hope that the knowledge and insights offered by this issue will enlighten our efforts to assist youth with mental health disorders in the juvenile justice system.

John J. Wilson Acting Administrator Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention