Use of the POSIT Among Arrested Youths Entering a Juvenile Assessment Center: A Replication and Update

ABSTRACT

The Problem Oriented Screening Instrument for Teenagers (POSIT) is a key aspect of the preliminary screening activities at the Hillsborough County Juvenile Assessment Center. We report the results of the third in a series of studies examining the test-retest reliability of the POSIT, involving an examination of the relationships between the youths' initial and second admission POSIT results for different time intervals between administration of the instrument. Comparisons are also made in POSIT scores for youths with different sociodemographic characteristics. Further, logistic regression analyses involving various predictors of involvement in mental health or substance abuse treatment are reported. The results continue to document the usefulness of the POSIT as a preliminary screening tool.