An Interview with CBIRT Director, Melissa McCart, EdD, on Addressing Justice-Involved Youth and TBI through the Rapid Alaska Brain Injury Tool (RABIT) Screener
We interviewed Melissa McCart, EdD, Director of the Center on Brain Injury Research and Training (CBIRT), about the Rapid Alaska Brain Injury Tool (RABIT) Screener. When asked about the tool, she explained, "The Rapid Alaska Brain Injury Tool (RABIT) is a set of five questions designed to gather information about an individual's lifetime history of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Developed through a collaboration between the Alaska Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), the Alaska Department of Health, and leading experts in the field, the RABIT is currently being implemented in juvenile probation offices across Alaska and at two facilities in Oregon—Lane County Youth Services Division and Jackson County Juvenile Services."
We asked Melissa about her motivation to work with justice-involved youth. She shared, "There's a significant stigma surrounding individuals in the probation and justice system, and unfortunately, that stigma doesn't stop with those directly involved—it extends to their families as well. People often fail to recognize that just because someone grows up in that environment, it doesn’t mean they’re inherently bad."Curious about her personal connection to this issue, we asked Melissa if she had experienced such challenges herself. She responded, "Yes, I grew up between Palm Springs and Las Vegas in the Mojave Desert. My parents were often incarcerated during my childhood, creating significant instability for me and my brother. We frequently faced food and water scarcity, and our home environment was marked by drug and alcohol abuse. By the time I was nine, my brother had already started using drugs. That path eventually led him to become a felon, like our parents."
"Those early experiences have greatly shaped my drive and passion for understanding and supporting justice-involved youth, particularly those with traumatic brain injuries. Which is why we’ve developed a new initiative focused on identifying and supporting justice-involved youth with brain injuries. The goal is to implement screening tools, connect youth with appropriate evaluations, and build tailored support systems to reduce the likelihood of reoffending."
Next, we asked about the future of the RABIT screener. Melissa shared, "We are currently conducting a pilot study to validate the RABIT screener. This study focuses on youth entering the juvenile probation system in Oregon and Alaska."
Melissa’s insights into the RABIT Screener and her personal connection to justice-involved youth emphasize the importance of understanding the link between traumatic brain injuries and the juvenile justice system. Her experiences growing up in a home affected by incarceration and substance abuse fuel her dedication to identifying and supporting youth in the justice system. As the pilot study progresses in Oregon and Alaska, the goal remains to validate the screener, ensure early identification, and provide personalized support services. Melissa’s work at CBIRT represents a critical step toward reducing stigma, addressing neurological needs, and ultimately improving outcomes for justice-involved youth.
Key Personnel
- Melissa McCart, EdD, Director CBIRT / Research Assistant Professor, University of Oregon
- Megan Kunze, PhD, BCBA-D Assistant Research Professor, University of Oregon
- Kandyce Kelley, BS, Research Assistant, University of Oregon
Project Director: Melissa McCart, EdD
Project Contact: kelleyk@cbirt.org