Format
Individual Presentation
First Presenter's Institution
Middle Tennessee State University
Second Presenter's Institution
Middle Tennessee State University
Third Presenter's Institution
N/A
Fourth Presenter's Institution
N/A
Fifth Presenter's Institution
N/A
Strand #1
Mental & Physical Health
Strand #2
Family & Community
Relevance
The proposal relates to two specific conference Strands, Mental and Physical Health, and Family and Community. The presentation will provide information about a youth and young adult led program, Healthy Transitions, that addresses risk factors related to transitioning into adulthood while dealing with behavioral health issues. An overview of behavioral health risk factors, how to use youth voice and the development of a youth-driven culture will be addressed. The positive influence of youth-driven programming as related to behavioral health, and methods to increase culturally responsive, youth-driven programming will be discussed.
Brief Program Description
Behavioral health issues among youth and young adults are often misunderstood by the youth, and well as adults in the youth's life. Healthy Transitions provides a model for promoting youth-driven services, and leadership opportunities. These opportunities help shape recovery practices for youth with behavioral health issues, including mental illness, addiction, and co-occurring disorders. This provides a peer voice by which practitioners can better understand the impact of mental illness and addiction on youth, and initiate practice strategies that attune to the unique cultural identity of youth. The intended audience is anyone working with youth and young adults.
Summary
Youth-driven services are derived from the peer support movement prominent in behavioral health practice today. Providing specific youth-driven services, led by youth and young adults, provides a unique voice to service deliver, and implementation. Understanding the cultural underpinning of youth, and the influence of adverse childhood experiences on behavioral health are key components of a youth-driven process. Providing leadership opportunities for youth, especially related to program planning and development, further introduces a voice not typically heard in the field. This provides myriad opportunities for youth and young adults to take charge of their own recovery, and move toward successful goal attainment. This often includes academic and vocational pursuits. This presentation will describe the youth-driven practices of Healthy Transitions, a Chattanooga -based program providing leadership opportunities for youth and young adults with behavioral health issues.
Evidence
The presentation will include the program evaluation and outcomes of the current Healthy Transition program in Chattanooga, Tn, as well as evidence and practice informed data related to youth-driven initiatives.
Biographical Sketch
Dr. Harden has worked in the behavioral health field for over 30 years. Her work with youth and young adults includes treatment of co-occurring disorders, and trauma. Dr. Harden is a professor at Middle Tennessee State University, and works in community behavioral health, bridging services that bridge gaps in care for underserved populations.
Keyword Descriptors
youth, youth-driven, co-occurring disorders, behavioral health
Presentation Year
2018
Start Date
3-6-2018 8:30 AM
End Date
3-6-2018 10:15 AM
Recommended Citation
Harden, Vickie Dr. and Jones, V. Nikki Dr., "Healthy Transitions: Peer Leadership among Youth with Behavioral Health Issues" (2018). National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference. 5.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/nyar_savannah/2018/2018/5
Included in
Healthy Transitions: Peer Leadership among Youth with Behavioral Health Issues
Behavioral health issues among youth and young adults are often misunderstood by the youth, and well as adults in the youth's life. Healthy Transitions provides a model for promoting youth-driven services, and leadership opportunities. These opportunities help shape recovery practices for youth with behavioral health issues, including mental illness, addiction, and co-occurring disorders. This provides a peer voice by which practitioners can better understand the impact of mental illness and addiction on youth, and initiate practice strategies that attune to the unique cultural identity of youth. The intended audience is anyone working with youth and young adults.
