In October 2002, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration (SAMHSA), of the US Department of Health and
Human Services, awarded $2.3 million for the Partnerships for
Youth Transition initiative, which funds five sites across the
nation to develop and implement transition programs for youth
with emotional and behavioral difficulties (EBD) as they enter
adulthood.
The Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative and the Annie
E. Casey Foundation have awarded additional funding to the University
of South Florida to develop a National Technical Assistance
(TA) Center on Youth Transition. The Center will provide and
coordinate training and consultation with the five sites to
build their capacity in the development, implementation, and
enhancement of transition practices, systems, and outcomes for
young people with EBD who are between the ages of 14 and 25.
PARTNERSHIPS for YOUTH TRANSITION:
THE SITES
Five sites across the nation have been funded for the Partnerships
for Youth Transition initiative. These five sites include:
· Utah Department of Human Services;
· Clark County in Vancouver, Washington;
· PACT- 4 Families Collaborative in Willmar, Minnesota;
· Department of Behavioral and Development Services
in Augusta, Maine; and,
· Allegheny County Human Services Department in Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania.
The sites’ target areas vary in size from several large
counties to single cities. Each site has identified specific
issues that will be addressed when developing, implementing,
and improving transition services for young people in their
area.
THE National Center on Youth Transition:
The National Center on Youth Transition
is located in the Department of Child and Family Studies at
the Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, University
of South Florida. The Center hosts a team of professionals,
including the Principal Investigator, a Project Director, Youth
Coordinator, a Web Master, a Materials Developer, and support
staff. Staff will provide and coordinate consultation, support,
and training in an effort to improve the development, implementation,
and evaluation of services and programs available to youth in
transition at each of the five sites.
The TA Center staff will develop a website which will address
transition issues and act as a point of reference and communication
for the five sites. The TA Center staff will also maintain a
list of professionals, family advocates, and youth with expertise
relevant to transition issues to be used as a point of reference.
Targeting five sites across the nation, the goal of the Center
is to assist in the development, implementation, and improvement
of programs for youth in transition. Strategies to facilitate
site development and synthesis of knowledge for cross-site exchange
and dissemination will be implemented through this initiative.
Partners include:
· Representatives from the grant site communities;
· SAMHSA;
· Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative;
· Annie E. Casey Foundation;
· US Department of Education
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For
Additional Info:
Hewitt B. “Rusty”
Clark
Principal Investigator
clark@fmhi.usf.edu
Nicole Deschênes
Project Director
deschene@fmhi.usf.edu
Department of Child and Family Studies
Louis de la Parte
Florida Mental Health Institute
University of South Florida
13301 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.
Child & Family Studies, MHC 2328
Tampa, FL 33612
Phone: (813) 974-4493
Fax: (813) 974-6257
Learn
more about the Center in this Presentation |
