The Youth Transitioning Protocol in Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington
The Youth Transitioning Protocol in Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington (The YTP) continues with initial implementation at five area agencies in KFL&A. The agencies are: Hotel Dieu Hospital, Addiction and Mental Health Services – Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington, Kingston Community Health Centres (Street Health Centre), Pathways for Children & Youth, and Youth Diversion (Kairos).
The YTP was developed by the KFL&A Service Collaborative, with the help of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), to define and clarify the preferred clinical transition pathway from child and youth services into adult services for youth who are: aged 16-24; who are experiencing mental health and/or addiction issues; who require specialized, complex care; and who are transitioning between services. The YTP is one component of a 3-part package that also includes a Youth Toolkit (a kit that includes a series of worksheets to help youth identify the members of their transition team, identify what they want to discuss during the transition meetings, and set goals and identify priorities) and an Agency Overview of Services for Youth in KFL&A.
What People are Saying
Jennifer Jackson, Intake Clinician/Clinical Leader with the Heads Up! Program at Hotel Dieu Hospital, says the protocol, developed to assure young people a seamless and successful transition from youth to adult mental health and/or addictions services, is very well organized and thought out. “It delivers good tools and it’s easy to use. It will easily incorporate into the different programs used at the various agencies involved. I know it’s going to complement our program at Hotel Dieu Hospital very nicely”, says Jackson.
“The entire package is very comprehensive, user friendly and client driven,” reports Darrel Hammond, Community Support Case Manager with AMHS-KFLA. “It brings everyone together. The youth agency, the adult agency, family, educators and most importantly, the youth toolkit allows the young person an important say in how their transition to adult services will play out.”
Jen Brittain from Pathways for Children and Youth says, ”It is a little more labour intensive to plan while following the Youth Transitioning Protocol, but the pay-off for the client is worth it.”
Next Steps
Once feedback is reviewed from the initial implementation phase, adjustments, as necessary, will be made and full implementation of the Youth Transitioning Protocol across the Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington will begin in the summer of 2015. Full training and orientation on the YTP for clinical staff who work with youth and young adults in KFL&A will be arranged for the fall of 2015. If you have any questions or would like to request a copy of the YTP, please contact chris.sullivan@camh.ca