Here are a few agencies that currently hold the contracts for the TAY programs in the East region:

Youth Service Bureau

Program Description: Youth in Transition

The Youth Services Bureau has introduced an innovative new program to support our most at-risk clients. Youth in Transition (You-IT) is a unique new program for youth at risk of becoming homeless or street-involved, and with complex mental health issues. The program is specifically designed to help youth between the ages of 16 and 24.

Cornwall Community Hospital

Youth Transition Improvement Program (YTIP) is a partnership with CCH addictions services to improve addictions and mental health system coordination, navigation and access for youth and young adults aged 16 to 24 and their families within Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry, Cornwall, and Akwesasne. Services are offered in French and English. 

And one more in the attachment!

I think the initial info graphic is a great starting point. Most 16-24year old youth should find its readability appropriate to their reading comprehension, as well as agency staff. 

I do not know how common prescribing Ritalin to children with ADHD is currently in Ontario, but adolescent physiological changes can cause the Ritalin to have a different effect during late teens, resulting in a craving for a different drug to cope with the changing symptoms. This may be relevant for TAY.

Also, with the advent of recognition of the traumatic histories of most youth with mental health and substance abuse "issues", having agency staff familiar with "trauma-informed" programming (asking "What Happened To You?" rather than "What's Wrong With You?"), and having "Trauma-Informed Services" (such as Intentional Peer Support), and use of WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plans) or RIS (Restorative Integral Support)-which involve inter-agency collaboration, which can be facilitated with multi-agency "Wrap-Around" service[s] coordination meetings of staff from the different agencies involved.

With Street-involved and homeless youth, "relational brokenness" may be a common issue. If local churches or interfaith groups are involved in "ministering" to such youth, a 2-page paper published in ACEsConnection.com/Blog entitled: "Attachment Theory and the Gospel explored-How relational brokenness redefines our existence" by Chaplain Chris Haughee of Intermountain [Children/Youth] Residential Services, may be an appropriate "training tool" for such Interfaith or Church groups in the two geographic areas described in the TAY Intro Invitation and Attachment. I'll ponder this post more later, and see if I can't think of further constructive feedback.

Since trauma can be "Trans-generational", and I don't know the number of possible Aboriginal youth in the two selected geographic areas, I think the Health and Welfare Canada reprint of "The Sacred Tree" would be quite appropriate for that group of youth trying to address their spirituality in recovery from either or both substance abuse and/or mental illness. I've only seen english language versions of the Health and Welfare Canada version of it.

Robert, thank you for sharing your knowledge about important considerations and appropriate approaches to service provision for this age group.

Thank you Sam and Chris for the information about interventions in your regions. It's great to see there are specific programs and protocols for TAY in Eastern Ontario.

Our scan continues! Please keep adding to this thread as you become aware of services or initiatives in Ontario focused on supporting TAY with mental health/addictions.  

Youth Services and the TAY Program in south eastern Ontario

Established in 1984, Youth Habilitation Quinte Inc. (Youthab) is a community based non-profit organization in H-PE dedicated to assisting youth aged 16 to 24. Our goal is to help young people living in the Quinte area to obtain and maintain safe and affordable housing, good mental health and employment.  Programming has been tailored for youth in each of these three areas including TAY.

TAY in H-PE

Following two years of piloting, TAY funding has been annualized by the South East Local Health Integration Network (LHIN). Jennifer Corelli, our TAY Connector coordinates transitions and community supports for youth between 16 and 24 years of age who are struggling with mental health and/or addiction issues. Jennifer assists youth in their transition from one mental health and/or addictions service provider to another and/or connecting them with services for housing, employment, education, finances, health care, and daily activities to improve their emotional well-being.

In addition, Youthab has received funding from the South East LHIN for a TAY Connector position in Lanark, Leeds & Grenville (LL&G) and Kingston Frontenac Lennox & Addington (KFL&A).

TAY in LL&G  

The children’s and adult Addictions and/or Mental Health (AMH) agencies in LL&G felt that TAY should be piloted in Lanark due to its high needs population. TAY was launched in June 2015 starting in Smiths Falls and Perth.  Heather Vrbanac, our TAY Connector, is located at Open Doors (children’s mental health services) in Smiths Falls.  

TAY in KFL&A

In collaboration with the core AMH agencies within the KFL&A Service Collaborative (SC) and the SC Coordinator, it was decided that TAY would launch in September 2015. TAY services complement the various youth programs and services in KFL&A and will be positioned clearly to youth, families and service providers.  

TAY Connectors Provide:

• Coordination with transitions from one system to another
• Systems navigation and service coordination
• Intensive case management services
• Interim mental health counselling
• Empowerment to develop life skills and make good decisions

 For TAY project enquiries, please email lilyl@youthab.ca

Thanks for your reply, Lily! It looks like you are doing great work. This is really helpful for us to know. 

Here are some programs available in Thunder Bay, ON, with links to the agency websites. Hopefully you can find this helpful!

http://www.tbaycounselling.com...tion-worker-program/

Thunder Bay Counselling Centre – Youth in Transition Worker Program

-ages 16-24

-support for youth leaving the child protection system (support re: all life areas, including MH & A)

http://www.tbaycounselling.com/uturn

-counselling services for youth/young people

http://www.alphacourt.ca/artic...n-transition-135.asp

Alpha Court Community Addiction & Mental Health Services

-ages 16-24

-confirmed mental illness (diagnosis) or symptoms of mental illness

-support offered to promote skills necessary for youth to live independently in community

http://www.dilico.com/yow/

Youth Outreach Services – Dilico

-supports at-risk youth in the City of TBay (ie: youth living in at-risk neighbourhoods

-promotes healthy lifestyle choices

http://search.211north.ca/record/TBY0739

June Steeve Lendrum Family Resource Centre

-ages 16-24

-on-site service & coordination with other partners

http://www.kanachihih.ca/

-ages 16-25; First Nations male youth

-chronic solvent abuse treatment – stay can be for up 2 years for rehabilitation

http://www.childrenscentre.ca/.../Substance_Abuse.htm

Children’s Centre Thunder Bay – New Experiences Program

-aged 12-18; for youth experiencing substance use issues

http://sjcg.net/services/menta...ling/youth/main.aspx

Sister Margaret Smith Centre (St. Joseph’s Care Grou) – Youth Programs

-16-24

-for youth who are struggling with multiple issues and experiencing difficulties transitioning between the youyh & adult systems

Hi

Associated Youth Services of Peel (AYSP) runs a Transitional Aged Youth Outreach program. Information about the program can be found at: http://www.aysp.ca/wp-content/...gedYouthOutreach.pdf

Sarah

Thanks Stephanie and Sarah - it's great to get some examples from the Northwest and the GTA region!

Transitional Age Youth

Tele-psychiatry Consultation

Service

The Transitional Age Youth Tele-psychiatry Service provides a one-time consultation for youth ages 16 to 24 who are experiencing serious mental health concerns or at risk of developing them. 

The service is geared to the consultation needs of health care providers with the goal of supporting effective early interventions. 

It is offered in Midland, Penetanguishene, Muskoka, Collingwood, Wasaga Beach and surrounding areas six days per month offering health care providers diagnostic assistance, treatment advice and recommended follow-up.  

How TAY works...

• Referrals are made by primary care practitioners - the physician, nurse practitioner, or paediatrician - by completing a Waypoint referral form and following the process outlined on the form.  The referral package is to be submitted to Waypoint's Central Intake Department
• A client ​​self-report is provided for the youth to complete
• From Central Intake, the Waypoint referral form, client self report and all collateral information ​is forwarded to TAY staff for review of suitability
• Upon receipt of all required information from the primary care practitioner, an appointment is scheduled
• Where applicable, consent for further collateral information will be requested
• Following the appointment, a comprehensive consultation report is provided to the health care provider with diagnostic assistance, treatment advice and recommended follow-up
• A check-in will occur with the client following the consultation to reinforce recommendations, identify barriers to follow-up and assist in connecting to follow-up recommendations

Read more here and as part of EENet's Promising Practice series here.

Hamilton's new Youth Wellness Centre run by St Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton. We offer youth 17-25:

1. Early Intervention

2. Transition Support

3. Mobile Team Services

www.reachouthamilton.ca