This project conducted a social network analysis in Clark County, Washington in order to describe the current state of a social service system for youth who are transitioning from children’s mental health services into adulthood. Clark County received a four year grant to change that system to be more responsive to the needs of youth with SED receiving public mental health services as they transition into adulthood. The standardized social network analysis interview was used and it was augmented with questions specific to accepted guidelines for transition services. The data collected through this effort was compared to data collected prior to the inception of grant funding.
The research explores the following questions.

What does the network of services that provide transition supports (supports to assist youth assume adult roles) for youth with serious emotional disturbances receiving public child mental health services look like in a standard service system?
To what extent do those services and supports comprise a system that is consistent with current guidelines about good transition supports?
To what extent in and in what ways does the service system change over the years of grant funding?

Data for network analysis were collected by interviewing agency directors and program managers about their organization’s professional relationship with other social services. Questions focused on aspects of professional relationship such as how often clients are referred to another agency and how often referrals are received from another agency.

This study was conducted in collaboration with Maryann Davis, PhD of the University of Massachusetts Medical School, Center for Mental Health Research.

Reports
(PDF Format)

Interim Report: Building Transition Systems: Interorganizational Linkages, Opportunities and Youth Outcomes

Final Report: Under Construction: Linkages between Youth and Adult Systems after Expanding Transition Services