Grant: Operating Grant: Transitions in Care - Evaluation Grants

Transitional-aged youth (TAY) with mental health and/or addictions (MHA) concerns often fall through gaps between care settings and systems, which can negatively impact their long-term outcomes. Many TAY may also have family members involved in their care, yet their families might not know where to turn for support in finding the best resources for the TAY and for themselves, when needed. There needs to be more support for TAY with MHA concerns and their families leading up to, during, and after care transitions. Navigation is one such model of support. The Family Navigation Project (FNP) is a service in which Navigators work one-on-one with TAY between the ages of 13-26 with MHA concerns and their families to help them find their way through the MHA system and get connected to the right care. Evaluation of this program is important to help understand if it is leading to benefits for TAY, families, and the health care system. This project will involve three studies. First, we will look at the literature, both academic and non-academic, to understand what the needs, barriers, and facilitators to MHA care are for TAY and families. Secondly, we will conduct focus groups with TAY, family members, Navigators, service providers, and system decision-makers to understand their ideas about the needs of TAY and families, how families can be involved in the care of the TAY, and the role of Navigation. Finally, we will conduct a program evaluation of the FNP, to better understand if and how Navigation leads to changes in youth, caregiver, and family functioning, quality of life, satisfaction with services, and use of appropriate health services for their needs. These findings will all be merged to present a picture of how Navigation can lead to system transformation for TAY and their families. We will share our findings through webinars for various audiences and a toolkit that will provide resources for TAY, family members, service providers, and system decision-makers.