Clients born in the 21st century often require a 21st-century approach to treatment and care. Members of Generation Z (those born between 1997 and 2012) are what we call “digital natives.” They grew up during a time of widespread use of digital technology, and consequently became fluent in navigating computers, the internet and social media from a young age. The question for juvenile justice leaders is no longer whether digital tools belong in the treatment ecosystem, but how they can be used thoughtfully and with fidelity.
In-person, one-on-one professional support is widely considered the gold standard for mental health care — and for good reason. Human connection, clinical expertise and individualized attention remain vital elements of comprehensive care. However, systems serving justice-involved youth today face persistent challenges: limited staff capacity, inconsistent engagement and growing mental health needs.
Digital interventions designed to address mental health and substance use concerns can be invaluable supplements to in-person care or as a bridge for treatment gaps caused by staffing or resource shortages.
Apps and platforms that utilize AI-technology, data metrics and evidence-based therapeutic approaches can provide a space for meaningful reflection, increase health literacy, teach relevant skills and give individualized feedback and progress reports. These benefits are similar to those one might gain from in-person therapeutic intervention.
Key benefits of using digital tools for youth programming:
The use of digital mental health interventions (DMHIs) is not a trend. In 2020, the World Health Organization published a framework for planning, developing and implementing youth-centered digital mental health interventions, emphasizing accessibility, engagement, safety and integration with existing services.
Client preference, increased engagement and information retention
One of the most consistent challenges in juvenile justice programming is sustained engagement. Traditional paper-based curricula and workbooks often struggle to hold attention — particularly with youth.
In informal client interviews, interviewers found that the majority of clients using Interactive Journaling® preferred digital journaling over paper-based Journals and in-person groups. The digital format was viewed as more secure and private, and as a space where they could be more open and honest, even though participants knew facilitators could view their responses.
Digital tools also offer these engagement advantages:
Interactive digital interventions have been shown to improve functional health literacy in adolescent users (Weng et. al., 2025). Health literacy is the ability to understand and apply basic health information. Increased health literacy is closely linked to improved health behaviors and decision-making — both of which are critical goals in juvenile justice settings.
Digital platforms make progress visible in ways that paper systems cannot. Real-time progress tracking helps youth understand where they are, what they’ve completed and what comes next. Seeing their personal stats and accomplishments can help support motivation.
Common tracking features:
Apps and platforms with open libraries encourage self-guided exploration. This allows participants to engage at their own pace and access additional content that feels relevant or interesting to them. The Atlas library features Interactive Journals, podcasts and videos covering a wide range of topics including, including anger management, recovery, life-skills, communication and more.
Rather than feeling like programming is something being “done to them,” youth can see themselves as active participants in their own growth.
Interactive journals center the participant’s own voice and reflection, creating a highly personal, self-driven experience. This, combined with participants' ability to explore platforms and apps on their own, can shift the perception from interventions as obligations to interventions as something they can meaningfully shape, engage with and find personal value in.
A common concern among decision makers is whether digital tools reduce human connection. In practice, well-designed platforms do the opposite: they give staff better information, earlier signals and more time to focus on in-person interactions.
Digital platforms can flag concerning responses or behavioral patterns in real time, allowing facilitators, clinicians or probation staff to respond quickly and appropriately. Instead of relying solely on periodic check-ins or manual review, teams gain an additional layer of insight that supports risk management and youth safety. Importantly, these tools function as decision supports, not decision makers, keeping professional judgment and human care at the center.
The future of juvenile justice mental health programming is not an either-or choice between in-person support and digital tools. The most effective systems blend both — using technology to extend reach, deepen engagement and support staff, while preserving the human connection and knowledge that remains essential.
For decision makers committed to improving outcomes for justice-involved youth, digital tools represent not a departure from best practice but an evolution of it.
Evidence-based, behavioral health Interactive Journaling® curricula are available digitally on Atlas. Atlas can save staff time while supporting fidelity to evidence-based practices.
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