Schools and Juvenile Treatment Drug Courts: A Case Study on Treatment Access through Collaboration and Advocacy.

This article focuses on improving access to evidence-based substance use disorder (SUD) treatment for adolescents through cross-sector collaboration among schools, community behavioral health agencies, and juvenile court service units, specifically by embedding juvenile drug court (JDC) services within school settings. It highlights the barriers youth face in accessing treatment, such as transportation, fragmented services, and parental stress, using a case study to illustrate these challenges. Counselors and social workers are identified as key advocates and leaders in facilitating integrated care, coalition-building, training, and communication across sectors to enhance treatment engagement and outcomes. The article advocates for shifting JDC operations from courtrooms to schools to reduce barriers and improve academic and behavioral success for youth with substance use issues.