Navigating Life's Challenges for Transitional Age Youth

This training will focus on the unique issues related to transitional age youth with mental illness.  It will discuss methods of program development and systems integration to minimize the impact of mental illness in this population.  Systems discussed will include psychiatric/psychological services, community mental health, motivational interviewing (a client-centered directive method enhances intrinsic motivation for change), education, vocational, alcohol and drugs, and family therapy.

We will cover the following areas:

• Access and entry to community mental health services
• Illness management strategies including substance use and abuse
• Service systems and treatment approaches for co-occurring disorders
• Motivational interviewing
• Transition/Vocational planning and placement strategies

At the completion of this training, participants will have an increased understanding in:

• The importance of early identification of psychiatric disabilities in transitional age youth
• Daily Maintenance Plan
• Access and entry to community mental health services for these youth
• Current and emerging psychiatric medications
• Signs that things are breaking down and an Action Plan
• Learn how the basic techniques used to motivate an individual to move into action
• Learn how one's personal style can have a dramatic effect on an individual's motivation to change
• How to do Transition/Vocational planning and placement strategies for TAY

You will be creating your own WRAP as a tool to help insure your success if you are planning changes in your life such as:

• Getting a job
• Changing jobs
• Increasing your work hours
• Taking on more responsibilities
• Getting more education or training