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Healthy Transitions

Healthy Transitions is a SAMHSA-funded initiative to expand access to developmentally appropriate, culturally and linguistically responsive services and supports for youth and young adults of transition age (16-25) who have, or are at risk for developing, serious mental health challenges. State, tribal, and territorial departments of mental health that are funded through this program partner with “local laboratories” to implement comprehensive and innovative approaches. Youth-driven, family-guided care is a critical component of Healthy Transitions, and grantees are spearheading efforts to promote youth and young adult voice, engagement, and leadership in the system of care.

Below are a few of the resources that were developed for or about Healthy Transitions grantees. To access Healthy Transitions webinars, visit SAMHSA’s Now Is The Time (NITT) Technical Assistance Center YouTube playlist.

For more on Healthy Transitions topics, visit our Resources page to find information and tools from our Youth & Young Adults of Transition Age Transformation Team.

Resources and Videos


Florida Healthy Transitions’ Peer-to-Peer Service Delivery Model

Research and Training Center (RTC) for Pathways to Positive Futures discusses the Florida Healthy Transitions program model of empowering young adults with lived experience to provide youth behavioral health supports. The young adult peer staff provide advice for others who are considering work as peers.

View Resource >>


Sustaining Healthy Transitions’ Values Through Policy

This Healthy Transitions issue brief describes examples of policy changes that states implemented to support youth and young adults of transition age. Healthy Transitions grantees, System of Care sites, and other planners and policymakers can use these examples as a springboard for their own efforts.

View Resource >>


Building Bridges Between Child and Adult Mental Health Systems

In this Healthy Transitions webinar, Maryann Davis (Transitions ACR) describes why child-serving and adult-serving mental health systems should be strong partners with System of Care and Healthy Transitions communities, and explores examples.

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Exploring Service Delivery Models

In this grantee-led webinar, Healthy Transitions grantees describe the traditional and innovative service delivery models they implement to support young adults of transition age.

View Webinar >>


Lived Experience as the Foundation to Success: Youth Coordinators as Key to Program Planning and Implementation

This Healthy Transitions issue brief provides considerations for Youth Coordinators and their supervisors on planning, implementing, and sustaining a Youth Coordinator role. It will be useful for Healthy Transitions grantees, System of Care sites, and any agency interested in establishing this role.

View Resource >>


Designing and Implementing Drop-in Centers for Youth of Transition Age: Lessons Learned from the Field

Several Healthy Transitions grantees have adopted  and  expanded  the  drop-in  center  approach. This Healthy Transitions issue brief shares examples and lessons learned from the field across the various stages of drop-in center implementation, from early exploration and planning to operation and sustainability.

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Communication and Referral Pathways: A Toolkit for Streamlining the Continuum of Care for a Seamless Transition

A key guiding principle of Healthy Transitions is to promote continuity of care and opportunities for seamless transition from child- to adult-serving systems. This toolkit dives into key considerations for seamless transition across systems, including strategies and methods employed by states, tribes, and communities across the country.

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Civil Commitment: Personal Experiences from Young Adults and Families

This Healthy Transitions brief was informed by interviews with individuals who have experienced civil commitment (involuntary hospitalization), either as a young adult or a parent, and it is intended to help leaders and policymakers understand and improve the process.

View Resource >>


Co-occurring Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders Among Young Adults: A Fact Sheet for Providers

This fact sheet is written to help providers, administrators, and other youth-serving staff understand the prevalence and causes of co-occurring disorders among young adults and provide effective interventions.

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Youth and Young Adult Peer Support: A Model for Youth Violence Prevention & Promoting Wellness

This Healthy Transitions and Project AWARE webinar outlines the essential elements of a successful youth peer support program, and includes a grantee-led overview of the Natural Helpers program in Fairbanks Native Association, a Healthy Transitions grantee.

View Webinar >>

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