NYSAP: Conceptualizing and Applying Developmental Immaturity in Juvenile Competence Evaluations

Presented by: Ivan Kruh, PhD

4 Hours / 4 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Conceptualizing and Applying Developmental Immaturity in Juvenile Competence Evaluations is presented by Ivan Kruh, PhD., in partnership with The National Youth Screening & Assessment Partners (NYSAP).

State statutes increasingly recognize developmental immaturity as a basis for youth in juvenile court to be found incompetent. Participants learn key developmental concepts for clarity about relevant developmental issues, with a focus on cognitive and psychosocial immaturity. The program addresses how developmental immaturity impacts the interview process with practice interviewing in ways that accommodate various developmental profiles.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:

1 Describe key elements of cognitive and psychosocial development that have been found to be relevant to competence to stand trial
2 Describe ways to assess elements of psychosocial development in forensic practice
3 Develop clarity about linguistic practices that detract from and enhance communication with school-age children and adolescents

Presented By

Ivan Kruh, PhD

Ivan Kruh received his PhD in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in Psychology & Law from the University of Alabama in 1998 and subsequently completed fellowship training in forensic psychology through the University of Washington. For ten years, he was the Director of Juvenile Forensic Mental Health Services for Washington State and directed a Juvenile Forensic Psychology fellowship through the University of Washington. He has offered juvenile forensic mental health evaluations privately in Massachusetts, New York and Connecticut since 2012. Dr. Kruh specializes in the conduct and coordination of evaluations of juvenile competency to proceed (JCTP) and has co-authored two manuals with Thomas Grisso regarding creation of state standards for these evaluations. He has provided training, quality assurance and technical assistance for a variety of state agencies nationally since 2010, all aimed at supporting the day-to-day provision of high quality juvenile forensic mental health evaluations.

Intended Audience
This training is intended for mental health and allied professionals who want to develop or enhance their skills in assessing developmental immaturity in juvenile court contexts. It is particularly relevant for those specializing in forensic psychology, child and adolescent psychology, or legal-psychology consultation.

Examples of Relevant Professionals:
- Mental Health Professional
- Social Worker
- Counselor
- Therapist
- Case Manager
- Probation Officer
- Legal Consultant
- Specialist in Forensic Psychology
- Specialist in Child and Adolescent Psychology
- Professional providing Legal-Psychology Consultation
Experience Level
This CE training is appropriate for licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals with varying levels of experience in juvenile forensic evaluation and developmental psychology.
- Beginner: Little or no prior experience with juvenile competence evaluations; seeking foundational knowledge of cognitive and psychosocial development relevant to legal competence and practical interviewing strategies.
- Intermediate: Some experience conducting forensic interviews with youth; looking to deepen understanding of developmental immaturity, refine assessment of psychosocial factors, and enhance communication practices with school-age children and adolescents.
- Advanced: Extensive experience in juvenile forensic practice; interested in advanced application of developmental concepts, integrating nuanced assessment techniques, and contributing to best practices in evaluating competence to stand trial.
Practice Setting
Professionals who assess developmental immaturity in juvenile court contexts typically work in environments where legal, clinical, and social services intersect. These settings often involve collaboration with courts, juvenile detention centers, mental health clinics, child advocacy organizations, and schools. The work environment is multidisciplinary, requiring coordination with legal professionals, social service agencies, and families. Practitioners may conduct assessments in secure facilities, outpatient clinics, or community-based offices, and frequently participate in court proceedings or provide expert consultation.

Examples of Practice Settings:
- Juvenile court clinics or forensic assessment units
- Community mental health centers serving youth involved in the justice system
- Private practices specializing in forensic or child/adolescent psychology
- Juvenile detention centers or residential treatment facilities
- School-based mental health programs for at-risk youth
- Social service agencies providing case management for court-involved minors
- Probation departments with specialized youth assessment teams
- Legal consulting firms offering psychological expertise to attorneys and courts
- Child advocacy centers supporting multidisciplinary casework
- University-based research or training clinics focused on forensic evaluation

We are proud to partner with

National Youth Screening & Assessment Partners (NYSAP)

The National Youth Screening & Assessment Partners (NYSAP) is a technical assistance and research group dedicated to helping juvenile justice and related programs nationwide. Since 2000, NYSAP has assisted juvenile justice systems to make decisions about adolescents that are consistent with youths’ health and positive development and with the community’s interests by helping systems use reliable, evidence-based methods for screening and assessment. We provide training, technical assistance, and quality implementation services to agencies and programs in the areas of risk screening and risk-needs assessment, behavioral health screening, and competence to stand trial evaluations.

NYSAP professionals have played a key role for 25 years in research on juveniles’ competence to stand trial and in developing juvenile competence standards for forensic clinical practice, law, and policy. In response to the growing demand for juvenile competence evaluations nationally, we provide consultation to assist agencies in developing or refining their juvenile competence service delivery system, as well as creating and conducting quality assurance procedures. We train clinicians and juvenile justice stakeholders (e.g., judges, attorneys, and community partners) in practice standards for conducting high-quality juvenile competence evaluations.

Learn More About Our Partner

CE Sponsorship Information

Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by, recognized by, or maintains sponsorship provider status with the following boards and agencies. We maintain responsibility for all content in our CE/CPD programs. For more information, visit here.

American Psychological Association (APA): Approved sponsor of continuing education for psychologists.
Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB): Approved continuing education provider (ACE program, Provider #1480), 11/22/2023–11/22/2026.
Canadian Psychological Association (CPA): Approved to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.
National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP No. 7190).

Sponsorship Approval Statements

Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7190. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Palo Alto University, #1480, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. Palo Alto University maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period 11/22/23-11/22/26. Social workers completing this course receive (clinical or social work ethics) continuing education credits. Continuing and Professional Studies, Palo Alto University, is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0103. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0356. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies, is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0073.