V-DISC
The Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children (DISC) is a psychiatric assessment tool used to screen youths in the juvenile justice system. The DISC was originally developed by the National Institute for Mental Health and Columbia University to allow uniform diagnostic assessment of large groups of children and adolescents by lay interviewers in a timely and cost-effective manner. The DISC provides up to 36 provisional mental health diagnoses based on DSM-IV logic. Immediately after administration of the interview, a report with provisional diagnoses can be printed. The report not only indicates potential mental health diagnoses for each youth, but it also addresses such critical issues as suicidality, substance use, impairment and severity.

VISA
This Voiced Inventory of Self-Injurious Actions (VISA) is a computer-assisted self-administered interview that examines a variety of self-harm behaviors in adolescents. This assessment was developed by CPMHJJ for use in juvenile justice settings. It is an essential component of an evaluation for juvenile justice populations because it allows for a quick and reliable assessment of self-injurious behavior for the purposes of risk management and service planning. Interview administration time of the VISA is approximately 15-20 minutes. The CPMHJJ is currently testing the VISA’s reliability, validity, and acceptability.

SUSI-Y
The Mental Health Service Use and Satisfaction Index for Youth (SUSI-Y) is a computerized self-report instrument that inquires about mental health service use and satisfaction in juvenile justice populations. The SUSI-Y takes approximately 20 minutes to administer. The CPMHJJ is currently testing the SUSI-Y’s reliability, validity, and acceptability.

DPS
The Diagnostic Predictive Scale (DPS) is a general purpose screen used to identify youth (ages 9 through 18) with mental health disorders. The questions are based on DSM-IV criteria and come directly from the extensively tested and researched Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children (DISC). Like the DISC, The DPS is a computerized interview that can be administered and scored by trained non-professionals. The DPS takes approximately 10 minutes to complete and is available in English and Spanish. DPS Results indicate the likelihood that a youth has a significant mental health problem; DPS is not a substitute for a clinical evaluation.