Piloting a Virtual Yoga and Mindfulness Program for Juvenile Court Involved Youth.

This article focuses on the implementation and evaluation of a virtual Raja yoga and mindfulness program designed for juvenile court-involved youth (JCIY) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The nine-session program aimed to promote coping skills and emotional well-being among youth aged 11 to 21 involved in community-based probation, addressing trauma and discrimination through remote delivery. Despite challenges such as technological barriers, staff turnover, and low participant retention, youth who completed the program reported intentions to use learned mindfulness techniques to manage stress and racism. The study highlights the importance of involving youth and court personnel in program design, addressing structural inequities like the digital divide, and adopting implementation science approaches to improve accessibility and sustainability of such interventions for this vulnerable population.