CPS for Youth and Young Adult 2016 World Cafes INTRODUCTION Over the course of four weeks in early 2016, four individual conversations were held across Pennsylvania with youth and young adults, parents and family members, service providers, and Certified Peer Specialists (CPS). Conversations were held in Philadelphia (January 22nd), Bellevue (February 4th), Scranton (February 10th), and State College (February 17th) with a total of 98 participants (n= 21, 24, 26, and, 27 respectively). These chats were conducted to inform content areas that will ultimately form a two day curriculum for training Certified Peer Specialists who have an interest in supporting young people as they transition from children’s systems of care to independence. To achieve this goal of supporting CPS’ to become peers with youth and young adults, a partnership has been formed between the State Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS), Pennsylvania Healthy Transitions Partnership, the Mental Health Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania (MHASP), and other invested community stakeholders including young people themselves. Recognizing the need to prepare individuals who are Certified Peer Specialists to understand and serve youth and young adults between the ages of 14-26, OMHSAS concurrently convened a statewide workgroup with the purpose of reviewing current CPS Standards and aligning those with identified service delivery requirements of youth/young adults.

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Further, appreciating that the voices of youth and young adults had to be included as valued participants moved us to identify a tool that would be accessible and engaging across multiple generations, educational levels, employment types as well as race/class/gender identification, encourage the participation of youth and young adults and, would allow the collection of data and thoughts to inform curriculum development. The methodology that we landed on is called Participatory As an off hours crisis Leadership and is worker in a rural area I used throughout the planet to raise would routinely ask young and tackle tough people “do you have any topics that require adults in your corner the thinking of the supporting you?” They many and especially those would always say no. That most affected by isolation has always the issue at hand. haunted me. World Café is one of the tools of Participatory Leadership and represents a dialogue process where all participants are considered leaders and experts in the conversation. Café participants are encouraged to write, draw, and doodle their responses to three rounds of questions. The primary rules of the Café are that everyone writes for themselves (aka – there is no recording/reporting secretary) and, that participants ‘gossip’ (share what they learn with each other to build on the knowledge at the table). An essential question is posed and, the three questions that participants discuss drive to an overarching response in its direction.

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CPS for Youth and Young Adult 2016 World Cafes For the four Youth and Young Adult Cafes, the overarching and essential question that was posed in the room was If you could imagine a world where Certified Peer Specialists are working so that young people make a healthy transition from adolescence and youth serving systems to independence and adulthood, what would that world look like? Three questions, each asked in a separate round of dialogue, resulted in (when transcribed) 36 pages of content. Question One invites participants to describe their reason for being in the conversation and their passion about the topic. Question Two invites participants to disclose their worries and concerns about the topic. Finally, Question Three encourages dreams and aspirations for a different world that the one currently experienced. The following themes emerged which will be incorporated into a two day CPS continuing education curriculum. The themes leaned to:  Support for youth and families  Adult recognition of the developmental needs and identity of youth and young adults  Inclusion of youth and young adults in decisions made about them  Resource development and accessibility: Employment, Housing, Education, Independent Living Skills/Training  Need for and value of positive peer and natural supports  System collaboration and responsiveness: Education, Mental Health, Advocacy 2|P a g e

 Importance of ongoing wellness  Value of community connections  Transition Strategies The following is a sampling of the comments made to each question across the four Cafes. QUESTION #1: W HAT IS IT FROM

YOUR PERSONAL

EXPERIENCE THAT MAKE S YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT THE TRANSITION FROM ADOLESCENCE TO ADULTHOOD ?

EMERGENT THEMES: Identifying and Making Resources Available, Giving Hope, Non Judgmental Space for Learning, Relationships, Normalizing Mental Health, Wellness and Self Care, the Transition to Adulthood, Support/Peer Support, Inclusion and Value of Youth Voices and Lived Experiences, Learning from Mistakes, Education and Advocacy     

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Give them Hope Housing needs. Need for employment. Lack of services Lack of information available to student / family re: options. Educate the educators in schools Lack of knowledge of programs in the areas. To help promote recovery and wellness with youth. I believe in peer support, providing hope to challenge. Need for natural reciprocal relationships Watching my children struggle with not having friends or support going from high school to adulthood. MHASP 2016

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The need to have relationships with the opposite sex and the need for friends Respect for both parents and youth Learning the difference between judgment or perceiving and when to use which CPS can help normalize their experience. I want my children and their friends to know it is ok to have a mental illness. It’s not be ashamed of! The struggle of adolescence; the fragility of youth. The passion youth can have >> energy. The possibilities! Healthy development / personal growth All of a sudden the world changes. Multiple losses (friends, activities, proximity to family, familiar spaces, etc.) Where do I fit in? How to not hate life when you discover how *u*ked up the world is and how much is stacked against those you care about Lose a lot of built-in relationships (i.e., family, school friends) and have to learn how to make new relationships without skills/support Adults need youth too!! Knowing that this stage sets the stage for adult life and the direction/decisions in this stage has important consequences for an individual’s future. Wishing I had had something stable to guide me when everything was confusing Personal development without support through that vulnerable time I may have made better decisions and had fewer negative consequences. There are things that school cannot prepare us for. I have seen the benefit of peer services working with the adult population. We have transitional age TCM’s who work with Young Adults (16-24) and feel CPS would

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add to that relationship and assist youth from someone who’s been there! It’s such a difficult time and any extra support especially from someone who’s been there would be great! Because sometimes role models and parents / families don’t give good advice. Share life experiences beyond a diagnosis. #1 My 21 year old son I’m passionate because I have a voice that can be heard from someone that has been in the situation I want to be listened to We tend to invalidate adolescents and young adults + view their experiences as a phase or disorder instead of supporting them Space to Grow and Mess Up/Adults to remember how they learned Drop Off of supports when person reaches a certain age What makes me so passionate is as a young adult with lived experience I feel most trainings are not informative about what we go through!! Possibility opportunity change the world change ourselves Learning / Unlearning; contribute to human potential for building equality, peace and love My passion is to contribute to the process and name who I am - know me/others Name Ourselves! Physical Illness < connections > Mental Illness (no connections) but there should be Being able to assist and be a voice for LBTQ Community because there is many trauma that occurs. Building positive relationships with youth because they need to see and experience what it looks like for getting support.

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To break anonymity within my family + community so they know where they can come for help and to not feel alone. Passionate about systems dropout from under you. Are we prepared properly for independence? Lose support of education system, mental health system, family based services. Institutionalization = loss of personal power, lack of confidence. I’m a new father… Sharing personal stories opens the door for dialogue. Providing empathy and your own coping skills sometimes really helps who you are working with opening up and sharing experiences. Have a job and getting to have my own money Lack of help when asked for help < no hope > hard to ask > reinforces feelings of helplessness < no hope > Break the cycle for others Youth Helping Youth. …so many times older people telling young people they don’t know anything. At what age do we allow youth to make their own decisions? Community Inclusion for young adults builds self-esteem. Having a purpose gives youth confidence. Having more social supports more outlets for creativity. Big Dreams No real transition period...sudden Self care!

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Making good decisions! Fear of Responsibility Getting enough life skills to prepare for next step in your life after high school Needing many supports to succeed Seeing youth being hospitalized after being lost in transition from the children’s to adult world. There are so many life changes during that time period. Personally striving for independence as a youth-no outlet for fear, confusion or guidance. We don’t have to walk through life alone: we all need a helping hand in life, or two from someone who understands. demonstrate hope/resiliency The transition from adolescence to adulthood can be scary, you’re finding yourself, you’re trying to do what your parents want you to do yet really find your own way. For those who don’t have a good support system, this time would be especially daunting. Benefit of positive peer relationships Advocacy/support/empowerment Trial and error Growth Need for Funding The struggle of the butterfly represents the struggle from youth to adulthood

QUESTION 2: WHAT GETS IN THE WAY OF ADOLESCENTS BECOMING INDEPENDENT AND SELF SUFFICIENT?

Emerging Themes: Fear of failure; lack of direction; adults who are controlling or who have created dependency; Family/Cultural Beliefs; Economic challenges; Lack of supports: employment, education, housing; System Failures; the MHASP 2016

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Fear of failure; Mistakes = failure instead of room for growth Trauma, depression, money, lack of supports, very little life skills, the unknown, fear, hard decisions, confusion. Comparisons to peers to a fault Fear of unknown Authorities not getting recovery or TAY. Not providing wanted/needed services. Trying to control rather than listen and support Generational Interdependence Expectations are not appropriate, not prepared for transitioning to become adults Being used to having others make decisions for them.-------->A lot of doing for, doing with, but not modeling or cheering on. crutch-----> enabling----->crutch---->enabling (circular relationship) Parents taking care of everything for the child vs. child not having anyone to teach them the skills vs. being “released” out into the world after living in placements with strict rules and structure & schedules; relying on staff all of their teenage-hood (no transition) Transition from being told what to do and when to do it, to having to figure it out on their own. Without support, youth give up because of not knowing where to start. Not a clear understanding of what it means to be independent. No parenting Youth being youth and not knowing what to do, older adults being older adults and not knowing how to help and connect with youth.

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Complicated connections, family fracture or estrangement. Parents need to think of other options for TAY. Parents need to teach basic life skills. Society & governments, parents expect schools to teach … everything. Parents: Misinformation, family dynamics, societal depictions of the perfect family/success.

Family dynamic, society definition of family success and expectations is hard Personal /religious/family beliefs. Lack of collaboration with families Parents not trusting the youth to choose Lack of parenting skills that aren’t effective Self-directed care and right to make own decisions Respect self-opinion. Validate youth cultural competence. Social Media: Nurture communication individuality. Keeping someone from their individuality at what point is enough, enough? Missed opportunities to foster independent thinking.

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I want to be in control of my life Undecided on a career plan, unsure of next steps. lack of maturity “Invincibility” effect Lack of hope / inspiration All or nothing mindset! Having to “Fit” Authority, judges, family dilemmas Justice system: busted. Access to services, systems, lack of supports, traumas of family and self Liability, organizations do not want to work with youth because of challenges, and safety risks. Fewer resources, $$$ Money. Social inequity POVERTY/racism/sexism/homophobia: social/society elements. Medicalization of human struggles, limiting beliefs of others, especially those in authority. Subpar MH Services: lack of appropriate psych-ed. Systems built for adults o Hours of operation o Regulations Too many barriers to navigate the system System and processes that are too complicated and filled with paperwork and delays Not speaking the language youth can relate to Legal issues that appear on a criminal record and interfere with life. Shifting from someone guiding your services to having to guide your own recovery Lack of access to tools generating self sufficiency

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Lack of financial skills, lack of job etiquette. Negative messaging, fear of failure, lack of confidence can get in the way of independence. Lack of knowledge of student loans, financial aid for higher education. HOUSING: specialized supported housing, no safety net. Wellness and Self Care Tools Estrangement, disconnectedness, social support Not equipped with coping skills Helping me to learn the importance of personal responsibility in life and recovery would have helped me a lot Educate the educators, school districts Substance use Peer support. Generational addiction, systems. Choice when possible, limits as needed. Collaborative decision making on what is needed. Imposing others creates distrust. Resilience: How to teach people to go for opportunities, try new things and recover from failure. How to turn Can’t Do into Can Do Adolescents are Not Adults, make supports more positive and address their developmental needs. Unconditional regard and “systems” that are responsive, supportive, nonjudgmental, and creative. Young people to get out and share their stories. Positive awareness of

MHASP 2016

CPS for Youth and Young Adult 2016 World Cafes needs, where to go for help, make it more open and supportive. Mental health, lack of resources, stigma, lack of motivation, depression, self-harm, stubbornness, self-worth, behavioral issues, rape, trauma, fault, PTSD, guilt. Stereotypes (systems, people) Lack of feeling trusted or valued for thoughts and dreams, seem invisible Trauma and Childhood adversity Sexual orientation lack of opportunities to see alternatives

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QUESTION 3: WHAT CAN YOU DO TO SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY BEING MORE RECEPTIVE TO YOUTH MOVING TO ADULTHOOD?

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Emerging themes: support for family; peer support for youth/young adults; skill development; whole person approaches to wellness; collaboration and networking; resources; community and system connections; Education; employment      

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Support for Parents Better understanding of options and planning more time dedicated to transition resources marketed better Getting help before adulthood Guidance/support that will be provided to ALL service providers as this transition of service develops and moves forward. Less clinical more peer Early intervention works Shared experience is most effective on youth. Create a bigger picture Holistic approach: yoga, meditation, services, whole health System change to support communities to support TAY. Connecting people creatively

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Youth focused drop in centers Youth run groups and activities Advocate for youth and funding Collaboration for best practices Develop a transportation system Create a vision for themselves Finding ways to express ourselves without criticism. Have a community youth committee, educate those “in power” Safe environments: Welcoming, age appropriate drop ins, accepted, positive police interactions Training for business and community leaders The power of personal testimony and success Legislation, we need $ County approval EDUCATE!!! Act 71 Peers! Community Connections MORE: role models, attempts to reduce stigma with education and community events and collaboration. More jobs, resources, positive alternatives, safe places, and transportation. Community garden, a place where everyone works together, and everyone benefits. Generational sharing Involve politicians/police/fire fighters to reduce stigma. Increase knowledge of mental health Community needs to understand youth culture, adults need to trust youth. Supporting youth and community involvement through the church. More opportunities to transition to permanency (housing?) MHASP 2016

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Less “what can youth do for the community” more “what can the community do for the youth” Community events where youth and young adults enjoy each other in shared activities. Community education on how serious mental illness affects youth. Advocacy Adults stand together with youth to advocate Resources and Communication Apprenticeship of partnerships towards skillsets or projects Youth Mental Health First Aid for schools Pediatricians and Dr’s to have more knowledge of mental health Meet people where they are at Natural and reciprocal Supports Drop In Centers for Youth-A place for youth / young adults to gather in groups Art! Positive outlook that recovery is possible Treating mental illness as a health issue that can be managed and monitored Transition to Adulthood Getting youth involved in program design Local youth governments! More casual social opportunities where Young Adults and Adults can share ideas Create a more natural progression into more supportive but less intrusive systems. “Not just a quick end” Inspire others

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Teach people how to engage youth. Tap into older (senior) adults to be peer mentors with youth. Participate. Be there for youth! Stay present with young adults, even if you don’t completely understand. Remember their process is the process Bring youth voice to the system > Meaningful Feedback. System > Multi-system collaboration > Community needs to be reflective in work of MH system. Support people’s fundamental needs >Schools + housing + families + legislators + broader community > religious institutions. Staying current in rapidly changing trends. Media Campaign highlighting youth doing great things. Celebrating Life Transitions. To be curious. Willing to change. Building good relationships. Mingling with different age groups. Working Together! Community driven youth courts Opportunities to get to know each other. Use art + music, dance, literature, theater to promote understanding + goal of mentoring. Celebrate difference! Creating more peer leaders to serve as role models. Helping people to share their stories. That healing and forgiveness is possible! Storytelling! Invite transition age youth on boards Help co-workers to understand peer specialists Wellness Fair to increase awareness Open-minded Non-judgmental

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