Presentation by:Presentation by:

Wayne Munchel, LCSWWayne Munchel, LCSW

Executive DirectorExecutive Director

Transition Age Youth AcademyTransition Age Youth Academy

a program of the National Mental Health Association of Greater Los Angelesa program of the National Mental Health Association of Greater Los Angeles

From Recovery From Recovery

To DiscoveryTo Discoverymeme

BE BE PASSIONATEPASSIONATE

aboutabout working with working with young adults…young adults…

……or stay homeor stay home

Seek not Seek not just to just to

educate educate and inform, and inform,

but to but to inspireinspire

If the average American If the average American young adult does not young adult does not

fully “emancipate” from fully “emancipate” from their families their families until age 28, ,

it is not reasonable to it is not reasonable to expect young adults with expect young adults with EBD, many with little or EBD, many with little or

no family support, to no family support, to emancipate successfully emancipate successfully

at age 18.

TAY ACADEMY DATATAY ACADEMY DATA

• 54 current students54 current students 40% African-American40% African-American26% Hispanic26% Hispanic24% Caucasian24% Caucasian• 120 students after expansion120 students after expansion

As of July 2005:As of July 2005:

15% homeless15% homeless22% in school22% in school17% working17% working37% living independently in own apartment37% living independently in own apartment

Diagnostic Impressions:Diagnostic Impressions:

66% severe mental illness such as bipolar or schizophrenia66% severe mental illness such as bipolar or schizophrenia

33% PTSD, personality disorders or mood disorders33% PTSD, personality disorders or mood disorders

50% substance use issues50% substance use issues

Referral SourcesReferral Sources

60% DCFS, foster care 60% DCFS, foster care

40% families, community agencies, jail40% families, community agencies, jail

Career DeveloperCareer Developer

TAY House Manager & SupportTAY House Manager & Support

Registered NurseRegistered Nurse

PsychiatristPsychiatrist

MeMe

Director & Assistant DirectorDirector & Assistant Director

Financial PlannerFinancial Planner

MentorsMentors

TAYTAYMENTORSMENTORS

TAY MATRIXTAY MATRIX

““Rollin’ In”Rollin’ In”

Intensive—Structured—TeachingIntensive—Structured—Teaching

CAREER DEVELOPMENTCAREER DEVELOPMENT

• Establish Life Habits—show up, timeliness…Establish Life Habits—show up, timeliness…

• In house education / training classes—GED…In house education / training classes—GED…

• Engaged, routine attendanceEngaged, routine attendance

• Exposures / Internships—in house jobs, school toursExposures / Internships—in house jobs, school tours

• Cost of living and wagesCost of living and wages

HOUSING ARRAYHOUSING ARRAY

• Intro to Adult Living 101…You pay for where you layIntro to Adult Living 101…You pay for where you lay

• 24/7 supervised, supported, “house parent”24/7 supervised, supported, “house parent”

• Subsidies, scholarshipsSubsidies, scholarships

• Specialized, residential teaching facilitiesSpecialized, residential teaching facilities

COMMUNITY LIVING SKILLSCOMMUNITY LIVING SKILLS

• Learn how to get needs met— “be nice”Learn how to get needs met— “be nice”

• S.O.D.A.S., rationales, problem-solvingS.O.D.A.S., rationales, problem-solving

• Mandatory fun, routine-sustainable activitiesMandatory fun, routine-sustainable activities

• Economic literacy, anger managementEconomic literacy, anger management

WELLNESSWELLNESS

• Develop life dreams/visions—inspire, core gift…Develop life dreams/visions—inspire, core gift…

• Identify barriers to life goals—symptoms, drug/alcoholIdentify barriers to life goals—symptoms, drug/alcohol behavioral, physical…behavioral, physical…

• Develop coping skills—take care of yourselfDevelop coping skills—take care of yourself

• Educate on illness, meds, therapy, pregnancyEducate on illness, meds, therapy, pregnancy

• Goal setting groups—sex, drugs, rock & roll, traumaGoal setting groups—sex, drugs, rock & roll, trauma

TAY MATRIXTAY MATRIX

““Tunin’ Up”Tunin’ Up”

Supportive—Individualized—MentoringSupportive—Individualized—Mentoring

CAREER DEVELOPMENTCAREER DEVELOPMENT

• Explore educational/work training opportunities in theExplore educational/work training opportunities in the communitycommunity

• Major partnerships with community college, adult schoolsMajor partnerships with community college, adult schools

• Keeping appointments, maintaining scheduleKeeping appointments, maintaining schedule

• Community-based apprenticeships, supported educationCommunity-based apprenticeships, supported education

HOUSING ARRAYHOUSING ARRAY

• Practice independent living skillsPractice independent living skills

• Cooking, cleaning, budgeting, shoppingCooking, cleaning, budgeting, shopping

• Getting along with others, managing guestsGetting along with others, managing guests

• Master leased, permanent, supportive apartmentsMaster leased, permanent, supportive apartments

COMMUNITY LIVING SKILLSCOMMUNITY LIVING SKILLS

• Practice community functioning skillsPractice community functioning skills

• Individualized, fun activities in the communityIndividualized, fun activities in the community

• Relationship skills, positive sex / intimacyRelationship skills, positive sex / intimacy

• Study groups, bus training, etc…Study groups, bus training, etc…

WELLNESSWELLNESS

• Practice coping methods, problem solvingPractice coping methods, problem solving

• Harm Reduction with drugs & alcohol, experimentationHarm Reduction with drugs & alcohol, experimentation

• Informed / empowered on illness, meds, treatmentsInformed / empowered on illness, meds, treatments

• Community therapists, community groups, etc…Community therapists, community groups, etc…

TAY MATRIXTAY MATRIX

““Rockin’ Out”Rockin’ Out”

Follow Along—Peer Mediated—Self DirectedFollow Along—Peer Mediated—Self Directed

CAREER DEVELOPMENTCAREER DEVELOPMENT

• Get and keep job with a career connectionGet and keep job with a career connection

• Ongoing education—certification, graduationOngoing education—certification, graduation

• Self-directed job searches, advancement, raisesSelf-directed job searches, advancement, raises

• Competitive employment, peer mentorshipsCompetitive employment, peer mentorships

HOUSING ARRAYHOUSING ARRAY

• Obtain / maintain housing of choice— “home”Obtain / maintain housing of choice— “home”

• Manages own guests / roommatesManages own guests / roommates

• Pays own rent, own payee, adequate incomePays own rent, own payee, adequate income

• Scattered site apartmentsScattered site apartments

COMMUNITY LIVING SKILLSCOMMUNITY LIVING SKILLS

• Successful functioning in meeting needsSuccessful functioning in meeting needs

• Places of belonging, community integrationPlaces of belonging, community integration

• How to get info / help, problem-solveHow to get info / help, problem-solve

• Give back—volunteer, teach new studentsGive back—volunteer, teach new students

WELLNESSWELLNESS

• Take responsibility for managing one’s own life / recoveryTake responsibility for managing one’s own life / recovery

• Accesses support when neededAccesses support when needed

• Follow-along by mentors with occasional remindersFollow-along by mentors with occasional reminders

• T.R.A.P. plans towards interdependenceT.R.A.P. plans towards interdependence

Know that today you will be Know that today you will be ignored, dismissed and ignored, dismissed and

cursed at for things that you cursed at for things that you will be thanked for profusely will be thanked for profusely

years later.years later.

Unless you’re wrong; Unless you’re wrong; in which case you will just be in which case you will just be

ignored, dismissed and ignored, dismissed and cursed at.cursed at.

my mom

If young adults with EBD are to transcend the confining If young adults with EBD are to transcend the confining boundaries of disability and the mental health system…boundaries of disability and the mental health system…

……providers must transcend the boundaries of disability providers must transcend the boundaries of disability and the mental health system.and the mental health system.

Partnerships must be established with institutions of education, job training and

youth development.

Remember all the Remember all the dangerous, ill-advised, dangerous, ill-advised,

destructive things you and destructive things you and your friends may have your friends may have

done as a transition age done as a transition age youth and consider that youth and consider that many of the disturbing many of the disturbing behaviors that you are behaviors that you are

witnessing are not due to witnessing are not due to mental illness or deep-mental illness or deep-

seated pathology.seated pathology.

Guyton

Director

MHA TAY Academy

TAY

Member

of the

Year

2004

Golden

Ducky

Awards