Strengthening Youth Crisis Reporting and Response: Development of a Practice-Based Systems Maturity Model.

Abstract

Youth suicide prevention and crisis response require coordinated action across public health, behavioral health, education, health care, law enforcement, and community systems. However, local jurisdictions often lack practical tools to assess system readiness and prioritize system improvements across fragmented service systems. This article introduces the Youth Crisis Reporting and Response Maturity Model, a practice-based framework developed through a multicounty pilot initiative in California. The model was informed by participatory system mapping, county reporting data, and iterative input from technical assistance providers, state partners, and community stakeholders. It defines five core domains of system infrastructure: planning and collaboration, prevention and outreach, reporting, response, and data and continuous quality improvement. Together, these components describe a staged progression from fragmented processes to coordinated and standardized practices. During the final year of the pilot, the model was applied as a structured dialogue and technical assistance tool to support counties in assessing infrastructure, identifying gaps, and prioritizing improvements. Application of the framework facilitated cross-sector alignment, clarified roles and processes, and supported incremental system strengthening across domains. Rather than serving as a benchmarking instrument, the maturity model functions as a practical tool for operationalizing system readiness and guiding policy, systems, and environmental change. It provides a shared framework for practitioners and policymakers to sequence system improvements, strengthen coordination, and advance more integrated and equitable youth crisis response systems.