The National Youth Screening & Assessment Project (NYSAP) is a technical assistance and research center focused on juvenile justice and mental health services. It is located at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, with support by a grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Since 2000, it has provided assistance to juvenile justice programs nationwide in their implementation of mental health screening and assessment, especially with the Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument - Second Version (MAYSI-2).
Beginning in 2006, NYSAP’s purposes and objectives were redesigned in relation to a new initiative of the MacArthur Foundation called “Models for Change: Systems Reform in Juvenile Justice.” NYSAP now has three primary purposes:
- Technical assistance on mental health and risk screening and assessment practices, for targeted states participating in the MacArthur Foundation’s “Models for Change” initiative
- Nationwide assistance in implementing the MAYSI-2 for mental health screening in juvenile justice programs
- Nationwide assistance for states reforming their laws, practices and forensic evaluations regarding juveniles’ competence to stand trial.
Click on buttons to the left to obtain more information about each of these NYSAP activities.
NYSAP is directed by Thomas Grisso, Ph.D. Co-Directors are Gina M. Vincent, Ph.D., and Valerie Williams, M.A., M.S. Coordinators and managers of various activities within NYSAP include Albert Grudzinskas, J.D., Kimberly Larson, J.D., Ph.D., Laura Guy, Ph.D., Shannon M. Maney, M.A., M.A., Nathan Cook, M.A., Richard Rondeau, M. S., and Max Yusem, B.A. Amy Thornton provides administrative assistance.
Primary consultants to NYSAP include Joe Cocozza, Ph.D. of the National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice, and Ned Loughran of the Council of Juvenile Correctional Administrators.
Inquiries to obtain NYSAP’s assistance and consultation regarding the MAYSI-2 & MAYSIWARE are managed by Shannon M. Maney, M.A., M.A. at nysap@umassmed.edu.