This study will explore the task-shifting of Parent Activation (PA) to Juvenile Probation Officers (JPOs) in rural communities, assessing their ability to deliver PA within justice services and its impact on youth and family outcomes. Juvenile justice serves over a million cases annually and is a primary source for substance use and behavior treatment referrals, but rural areas often lack the resources for family-based treatments. JPOs, though limited in time and training, could potentially activate parents through PA, which has proven effective in healthcare settings. Using a stepped-wedge design, the study will train JPOs in 32 rural counties to deliver PA, evaluating its effects on youth recidivism, substance use, and parent involvement, as well as the factors influencing its success.
