Social Work Commons^™

Focal Point, Volume 27, Portland State University. Regional Research Institute

Research and Training Center - Focal Point

This special issue of Focal Point focuses on best practices for helping youth and young adults with mental health challenges reach their educational and employment goals, by highlighting preliminary results from some of our research at Pathways to Positive Futures as well as some of the work being done at the Transitions RTC at the University of Massachusetts.

Faq: Defining, Supporting, And Sustaining The Peer Support Specialist Role, Research And Training Center For Pathways To Positive Futures

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

Pathways RTC, together with staff from the Technical Assistance Partnership and the Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health, decided to interview agencies that were developing peer support specialist (PSS) roles. The goal was to find out what these agencies were learning about defining, supporting, and sustaining the PSS role. This FAQ summarizes some of the main things that were learned.

Native American Young People In The Transition To Adulthood: Perceptions Of Challenges And Supports, Terry L. Cross, Pauline Jivanjee, Abby Bandurraga, Barbara J. Friesen, L. Kris Gowen, Cori Matthew

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

This presentation focuses on native American youth and how work with this population can be improved by following the Relational World View as a theoretical framework. Discusses practice-based evidence findings and development of the NAYA Assessment Tool, and the Finding Our Way study methods. Findings of the study explore young people's perceptions of challenges, needs and supports. Finally, the presenters discuss expansion of the assessment tool to address transition domains.

Social Workers' Awareness Of Permanency Readiness Services In San Bernardino Children And Family Services, Maria Vanessa GáLvez, Cynthia Morales Guerra

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study was to explore social workers' awareness of permanency readiness in the county of San Bernardino Children and Family Services within the foster care system. The intent was to update social workers on how to develop with youth, caregivers and other partners, successful strategies to improve transition practice and outcomes in their daily comprehensive assessments, planning, and practice (Family 2 Family, 2012).

Social Workers' Perspectives On Placement Stability, Joseph Charles Van Campen, Susan May Copple

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study was to obtain opinions of social workers on placement stability. Specifically the study examined social workers' opinions of present placement tools, their thoughts on alternative placement tools, and other factors that would promote placement stability for foster youth.

Implementing The Peer Support Specialist Role: Providing Direct, Individualized Support In A Local Program, Research And Training Center For Pathways To Positive Futures, Youth Empowerment Support Program

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

This information brief provides an example of how one locally-initiated program has implemented the Peer Support Specialist role for youth and young adults with serious mental health conditions. The brief covers aspects of training, coaching, supervision, role definition and financing; and describes challenges and solutions.

“I Bloomed Here”: A Guide For Conducting Photovoice With Youth Receiving Culturally- And Community-Based Services, Abby Bandurraga, L. Kris Gowen, Finding Our Way Team

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

Photovoice (PV) is a way to get young people engaged in their communities and be featured as “experts on their own lives” (Wang, et al., 2004). The process involves giving youth cameras they can use to document the realities of their day-to-day experiences and highlight the strengths and challenges within their communities. The photographs they take and the stories that emerge from small group discussions around the pictures are used to engage in important discussions with policymakers, community leaders, and power brokers within the community in order to promote positive change.

In this guide we have provided helpful strategies based …

Implementing The Peer Support Specialist Role: Youth Peer Support In Wraparound, Research And Training Center For Pathways To Positive Futures, Youth And Family Training Institute

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

This information brief provides an example of how one state has implemented and supported the Peer Support Specialist role for youth with serious mental health conditions. The brief covers aspects of training, coaching, supervision, role definition and financing; and describes a series of challenges and solutions.

Pathways To Positive Futures: State-Of-The-Science Conference Proceedings, Janet Walker, Kris Gowen, Pauline Jivanjee, Celeste Laurana Moser, Claudia Sellmaier, Nancy Koroloff, Eileen Brennan

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

Over the last decade, evidence has mounted showing that young people with serious mental health conditions experience a variety of challenges as they mature into adulthood. On average, their educational, economic and vocational outcomes are distinctly worse than their peers’, and they are more likely to experience homelessness, to struggle with substance use, and to be involved with corrections systems. In 2009, researchers at the Regional Research Institute at Portland State University applied for and received a grant from the National Institute for Disability Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR, US Department of Education) and the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS, US …

Youth Advocate To Advocate For Youth: The Next Transition, Lacy Kendrick Burk, Johanna Bergan

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

A growing youth movement across the country has developed a vast number of youth and young adult leaders who are passionate and experienced in sharing their stories to create positive systems change. Many strong youth groups and organizations, authentic youth/adult partnerships, federal grant programs, and research and training centers across the country support this movement. Even more importantly, the movement is sustained by the energy and passion of the young leaders and those who support youth voice.

This guide is intended for young people who have chosen to utilize their lived experience as a mechanism to advocate for positive change. …