Eastern Shore Hospital Center

The purpose of this study was to develop a mental health promotion program for vulnerable middle school-age African American youths to reduce the risk of first-time involvement with the juvenile justice system. A review of the literature, pilot testing of instruments, and community collaboration led to the development of the program, which was funded through the Office of Rural Health.

Evaluated at two neuropsychology laboratories (N = 50) an 8-item Cognitive Deficit (CD) subscale of the SCL-90-R using both empirical and a priori criteria. After adjusting for symptom response rates, significant correlations are observed between the subscale and both the Impairment Index and Category Test of the Halstead-Reitan Battery. The issue of "organicity" subscales and the use of self-reporting with cognitively impaired patients are addressed.