The YOUTH MOVE TA CENTER
RESOURCES
Check out these resources created by the
Youth MOVE Peer Center
Issue Briefs
Our issue briefs take on a contemporary topic surrounding youth engagement and peer support and provides a deeper conversation with resources.
Newsletters
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Learning Community
Our learning community is a space to learn from others who are doing innovative things in peer support in their community!
Issue Briefs
Adapting Youth Engagement & Youth Peer Support During a Pandemic
This issue brief highlights strategies to support and engage youth and young adults during the pandemic. COVID-19 is a high-risk disease that has had a significant impact on the mental health and overall well-being of youth and young adults aged 16-25.
Nonbinary Youth in Binary Systems: Considerations for Mental Health Services - Part One
In this issue brief, we focus on one community that continues to lack specific research and consideration: nonbinary youth. We explore what it means to be nonbinary, its focus in mental health research, and offer some considerations and reflection questions for those looking to better serve these youth within mental health services.
Nonbinary Youth in Binary Systems: Considerations for Mental Health Services - Part Two
In this issue brief, we will be continuing the conversation and focus on one community that continues to lack specific research and consideration: nonbinary youth. We continue exploring what it means to be nonbinary, its focus in mental health research, and offer some considerations and reflection questions for those looking to better serve these youth within mental health services.
Actionable Self Care: Create Your Own Self Care Kit -
Part One: What to Consider When Creating Your Kit
Self care is a popular concept right now. It has a radical history, and recently has been in the spotlight more and more since the start of the COVID-19 Pandemic. We know that intentional, actionable self care is more nuanced and more important than ever now. We also know that self care alone cannot make up for the community care and healthy social systems we all need. It can be tricky to figure out which self care practices might work for you, and how to organize them. In this Issue Brief, we learn more about the history of self care, why self care is important, and how you can create a kit that will help you.
Actionable Self Care: Create Your Own Self Care Kit -
Part Two: Considerations and Resources for Building Your Kit
In this issue brief, we share considerations and resources for building your own self care kit.
The Role & Value of Medication
This issue brief explores how medication can be one effective tool for managing health, mental health, and substance use challenges. When deciding to take medication, youth and young adults can identify a list of people to have on their team to support them in this process.
Support of Youth & Young Adults During the Transition Years
This issue brief reflects on the results of a national survey of families with a youth or young adult with behavioral health needs and span topics including financial support, crisis response, and situations surrounding living with family.
Explaining the Ticket to Work Program
Millions of youth and young adults receive Social Security (SS) benefits in the United State. In 2021, the average monthly payment for youth under the age of 18 was $687, and $617 for ages 18-64, which includes transition aged youth and young adults. The federal poverty level for a single person household in the US in 2021? $12,880. That means that young people with disabilities face considerably higher rates of poverty, and many end up seeking work while receiving benefits to survive. However, due to restrictions in how much beneficiaries are allowed to earn in additional income without losing their financial and healthcare SS benefits, there is often a lot of fear in trying to pursue work. Additionally, stigma and discrimination exists for disabled people receiving benefits.
How to Help Yourself Transition to Adulthood
This document is a collection of information directly for young adults who are navigating the transition to adulthood. Within this document you will find information on developing natural supports, tips on asking for help and building relationships, goal planning, healthcare & self-care, tips for accessing traditional services, and getting involved in your community.
Strategic Sharing
The stories and experiences of youth peer support providers are valuable and essential to fostering connection, especially when they are used strategically. When sharing strategically, someone who is speaking can feel a sense of accomplishment by connecting with their audience, and the audience is more likely to feel comfortable- welcoming the message being delivered.
Mental Health Tip Sheet for Educators
Many people experience the onset of serious mental illness or substance use disorder during adolescence and early adulthood, with 50% of psychiatric conditions appearing before the age of 14, and nearly 75% before the age of 25. Although the onset of mental illness peaks during the transition years, utilization of mental health services declines sharply during this time and many young people do not access the treatment they need. The prevalence of mental illness among youth and young adults are at historic highs and have recently been exacerbated by the COVID–19 pandemic
Webinar Recordings
Psych Advance Directives for Youth and Young Adults Webinar –
A Psychiatric Advance Directive (PAD) is a legal document that details preferences for future mental health treatment, services, and supports. This webinar will present the core elements of a PAD, and the role and benefits of Peer Specialists facilitating and supporting their development. Learn why these documents are important for young people and how a PAD can support one’s recovery and interactions with the mental health system. Having a PAD can have positive impacts on one’s mental health and the types of crisis services received. PAD’s can be a helpful tool to ensure that your wishes are followed no matter what stage of life you are in- but particularly for a young person this is a pathway for self-direction and self-advocacy for one’s treatment options. This presentation was led on May 17, 2023 by peer specialists of whom are subject matter experts in peer facilitated PAD’s and youth peer support.
Watch Webinar >>
Youth Program Startup Guide
Setting up an effective youth voice & lived-experience program.
As the youth movement continues to expand, there has been an increased interest in youth voice and youth engagement strategies nationwide. Adult systems often provide services which do not align with the clinical profiles of youth and young adults, negatively impacting young peoples’ ability to engage in mental health care (Rickwood, Deane, & Wilson, 2007; Pottick, Warner, Stoep, & Knight, 2013). When experiencing personal challenges, youth and young adults tend to seek informal supports such as friends, family, or other significant adults, rather than from traditional mental health professionals (Rickwood, et al., 2007). Because existing services and systems may not adequately attract, engage, and serve young people, there has been an emergence of youth-run programs and organizations