Across India, Children in Need of Care and Protection (CNCP) and Children in Conflict with the Law (CCL), as defined in the Juvenile Justice Act of 2015, are among the most overlooked populations in mental health policy. These children residing in Child Care Institutions (CCIs) face compounding psychological stressors, including trauma, family separation, and social stigma, which can negatively affect their mental health and well-being. However, these vulnerable young people remain largely underrepresented in and underserved by national mental health programs, which predominantly target community and primary care settings. Initiated by the Schizophrenia Research Foundation (SCARF), the Juveniles Accessing Mental Health Services (JAMS) program seeks to improve mental health support for children in CCIs through a three-pronged approach, including mental health literacy for staff, Youth-Friendly Spaces (YFS), and mental health screening and referrals. This ethnographic research project carried out in Tamil Nadu, India, is intended to examine how and to what extent the JAMS program improves access to and outcomes of mental health support for youth in CCIs in India, drawing on interviews and focus group discussions with SCARF staff, children residing in CCIs, CCI staff, and government officials.
