Transition of Youth and Young Adults with Emotional or Behavioral Difficulties: An Evidence-Supported Handbook

Edited by Hewitt B. “Rusty” Clark, Ph.D., & Deanne K. Unruh, Ph.D

As youth with emotional or behavioral difficulties transition from school and home settings, they face the complex challenges and expectations of adult life: finding and maintaining work, establishing new relationships, building a career, and more. This comprehensive professional handbook will help transition specialists, general and special educators, mental health practitioners and therapists, child welfare and justice specialists, school psychologists, and administrators support youth and young adults in setting goals and achieving positive outcomes across employment, education, and community-life functioning.

Drawing on the expertise of a wide range of contributorspractitioners, educators, researchers, administrators, parents, and young people themselvesthis book collects our best, most current knowledge on supporting transitions for young people with mental health issues. Through up-to-date research and in-depth analyses of seven successful transition programs, readers will discover how to:

• apply evidence-supported practices to guide youth and young adults through the transition obstacle course
• bridge the gap between child and adult mental health services for consistent and coordinated services and supports for young people and their parents
• ensure effective adult services that are developmentally and culturally appropriate, and relevant to young adults
• address system fragmentation, so the mental health, education, justice, substance-abuse treatment, vocational rehabilitation, and child welfare systems can work together to serve young peoples best interests
• implement strategies for the transition from high school to meaningful employment, postsecondary education, or technical training
• use peer supports to reach, engage, and coach young people as they move into adulthood
• reduce common risk behaviors through skillful prevention planning
• fund and sustain services and supports through agency collaborations and a creative combination of federal, state, local, and private dollars
• implement a Continuous Quality Improvement process to recognize needs, build on strengths, and make required changes

Vignettes and first-person testimonials throughout the book strengthen readers’ awareness of the challenges young people experience and how effective transition services can make a difference. Detailed analyses and recommendations regarding program, system, policy, and research will help professionals shape the future of mental health supports and ensure the best possible adult lives for the young people they serve.

To order, visit www.brookespublishing.com/clark - Be sure to use the code AF-69636 when ordering to save 10%!