Behavioral Assessment Unit

The Behavioral Assessment Unit (BAU) is a newly formed unit within the Placement and Program Implementation division. As of July 1, 2025, BAU became the referral source for all intake behavioral health evaluations (i.e., mental health evaluations, psychological evaluations, psychosexual evaluations). BAU has implemented a decision matrix, and each youth is referred for an evaluation which meets the youth’s unique needs. BAU recognizes the importance of assessment as the beginning point of the youth’s treatment services while in DJJ direct care. As part of the Classification and Evaluation Staffing Team (CEST), BAU enjoys partnering with the CAP Unit, Court Services Units, educational staff, juvenile detention and correctional center staff, and other DJJ stakeholders involved in the intake process. BAU has developed a Treatment Services Recommendations Form (TSRF) which is part of the Case Conference Form and aligns each treatment need with a priority domain on the Youth Assessment and Screening Instrument (YASI).

BAU recognizes that each youth has individual treatment needs, and our focus is to put into practice the Agency’s risk-need-responsivity model and build the youth’s strengths. We know that for our youth to become productive citizens, individualized opportunities for growth must be identified. Behavioral Assessment Specialists within BAU travel to CAP intake sites across the Commonwealth and perform supplemental assessments (i.e., MAYSI-2, SASSI-4 & SASSI-A3, STAR Reading & Math, and CareerScope) to enhance the intake assessment process and to help inform placement considerations. Additionally, BAU is supporting the Agency’s effort to continuously improve the quality of the use of the YASI for case management and treatment planning. We look forward to helping ensure the fidelity of the YASI and to enhancing the development of the comprehensive case re-entry plan. BAU is proud to be among those who assist the youth at the beginning of their DJJ direct care stay. The BAU team is located in the Complex Administrative Services building.