Table 4 Treatment barriers identified by guardians

Cost/insurance

“It [treatment] was like just as expensive as sending him [youth] to college…Once they told me the price, I’m like, “Yeah, I cannot afford that. I couldn’t even afford that if I worked two jobs.””

Youth interest

“He [youth] said he really didn’t like it…he felt like it was just nonsense, like it was just a bunch of talking, and it didn’t help anything.”

Lack of communication from JJ/CMHC

“And then they [CMHC] were supposed to get back with us and set up further appointments and they have not, and I’ve made calls to them and I’m just told that they will reach out to us.”

“I wake up in the morning, take him there [treatment facility] on Saturdays like I was instructed to. Then when I talked to the people there, nobody knew anything and no one had talked to anybody from juvenile probation. There was nothing in place.”

No appropriate treatment available

“Every single facility that we called, there were waiting lists. And when we would tell them what we were needing to be seen for, they were very hesitant to schedule her and would say, “Well, we’ll put you on the list and we’ll call you back.””