According to MI DHHS, all juvenile justice specialists and supervisors must complete certification in the Michigan Juvenile Justice Assessment System (MJJAS). Juvenile justice specialists must complete certification in MJJAS prior to assignment of a juvenile justice case. Juvenile justice supervisors must complete certification in MJJAS prior to supervising the juvenile justice program.
Certification in the Michigan Juvenile Justice Assessment System (MJJAS) is also required for juvenile justice residential facility staff prior to completing or approving residential treatment plans.
What is the MJJAS?
The MJJAS is a research-based, validated assessment instrument developed by the University of Cincinnati Corrections Institute (UCCI) and is known as the Ohio Youth Assessment System© (OYAS). The MDHHS contracts with UCCI to utilize the OYAS and refer to the risk assessment as the MJJAS. The OYAS (aka: MJJAS in Michigan) is a structured decision-making assessment tool that identifies the likelihood a youth will participate in future delinquent behavior and helps inform placement and treatment decisions. When used over time, scores show changes in risk level based upon changes in a youth’s behavioral profile and life situation.
The MJJAS and YouthCenter
We've added all five versions of the MJJAS assessment in YouthCenter as of 2023. These assessments are available to all Michigan-based organizations using YouthCenter. It should be noted that certification is required to administer the MJJAS risk assessments before using them in YouthCenter.
Assessments can be scheduled with reminders in YouthCenter. Scores/progress over time may be viewed. The scoring and comments associated with the MJJAS assessment may be reported on and combined with data regarding Programs and Services in YouthCenter. This combined reporting can help to form a larger picture of program or service effectiveness or a youth's progress.
Getting Trained on the MJJAS
MJJAS training sessions for the fiscal year 2024 are listed below. Maximum enrollment is generally limited to 15 participants per session. In the calendar year 2024, virtual classes will be completed per UCCI guidelines, and participants will attend four consecutive half-day trainings to be eligible for certification testing. It is highly recommended the MDHHS staff and supervisors complete the Juvenile Justice Program System Training (JJPST) through the Office of Workforce Development and Training (OWDT) before scheduling MJJAS training. Certification is required to administer the MJJAS risk assessments.
Training Dates:
- October 18-29, 2023 - Virtual
- December 13-14. 2023 - Virtual
- January 22-25. 2024 - Virtual
- February 20-23, 2024- Virtual
- March 18-21, 2024 - Virtual
- April 22-25, 2024 - Virtual
- May 13-16, 2024 - Virtual
- June 10-13, 2024 - Virtual
- August 12-15, 2024 - Virtual
- September 23-26, 2024 - Virtual
- October 14-17, 2024 - Virtual
- December 16-19, 2024 - Virtual
Training can be scheduled via the MDHHS Learning Management System (MDHHS LMS) for MDHHS staff or state of Michigan juvenile court staff may schedule by contacting MDHHS at [email protected].
View the full MJJAS Annual Report FY2023 and information on FY2024 here.
If your organization does not have access to the Assessments application in YouthCenter, please contact us to enable it.