Concluded Project - end date 9/30/2006
Clark County Partnerships for Youth Transition Evaluation Options Program
In October of 2002, the Clark County, Washington, Department of Community Services & Corrections received a four-year grant from the Department of Health & Human Services, Public Health Service, Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration for the Partnerships for Youth Transition project. As described at the department's website, the goal of this project is to build an enhanced system of treatment to address the particular challenges that youth with emotional or behavioral difficulties face in making a successful transition to adulthood. This comprehensive continuum of services will build upon existing programs and work to bridge gaps between the children's mental health system and the adult mental health system. Community partners, youth and family members have participated in planning and ongoing oversight of the program.
The first year of this four-year grant was dedicated to planning, which resulted in refinement of the project's logic model, which outlines the intervention elements and desired outcomes, and a strategic plan for developing and sustaining the program. Transition and employment specialist, a youth coordinator, and supervisory staff were hired and trained in Fall 2003, and the project - now renamed "Options" - began working directly with youth in January 2004. As of February 2005, there are nearly 50 youth enrolled in Options. Virtually all are participating in the evaluation.
The Regional Research Institute for Human Services (RRI) at Portland State University manages the evaluation component of the Clark County Partnerships for Youth Transition project. RRI staff involved in the project include: Nancy Koroloff, Principal Investigator; Jodi Kerbs, GRA, and Vicky Mazzone, Project Support Staff. Formerly, staff also included Mike Pullmann, Statistical and Database Consultant and Project Manager, Lynwood Gordon.
Researchers from the RRI collaborate with youth and family member evaluators from the greater Vancouver community, the directors of the Partnerships for Youth Transition project, and with the project Steering Committee. We continue to work with youth and family member evaluators - most recently, Blayne Amson (youth) and formerly, Tiffany Harris (youth) and Paula Savage (family member).