Youth and Young Adult Services

YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT SERVICES

Young adult services give young people living with mental health conditions, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and autism the support they need to plan for their future and achieve their goals to live as productive and happy adults.

COMMUNITY-BASED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

The transition of becoming an adult while living with a mental health condition has unique and specific challenges, as mental health conditions often emerge during the life phase that bridges adolescence and adulthood. This is why our young adult services follow an innovative, strength-based model designed to support youth who are struggling with the ability to regulate their emotions, experience substance use challenges, experience homelessness or are at-risk of homelessness, or are experiencing their first episode with a mental health condition.

Most of our youth services are available to young adults between the ages of 14-25, who are eligible to receive support from the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health. However, our youth and young adult access centers, YouForward and YouthQuake, are self-referral and open to anyone between the ages of 14-25 having difficulty regulating their emotions or facing substance use or mental health challenges.

CLIENT AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT SERVICES (FRIENDS OF METRO BOSTON)

Client and Community Empowerment Services (CCES), also known as Friends of Metro Boston, provides opportunities for young adults with mental health conditions to participate in activities in the community with other young adults who do not have mental health conditions.

We work with community members and organizations to bring young adults together to form friendships in their own community, so people feel included and integrated. These shared memories and friendships help to build community and dispel prejudice and discrimination often faced by those with mental health conditions.

If you would like to learn more or join one of our programs, contact Cameron Zirpolo at 617-626-8978 or zirpoloc@template.vinfen.org.

ENHANCED YOUNG ADULT PROGRAM

Vinfen’s Enhanced Young Adult Program (EYAP) provides access centers in Lawrence, Lowell, and Everett, as well as the more structured fidelity informed practice of Transition to Independence program (TIP), to help young people embark on a positive life path into adulthood and toward the goals of personal stability, secure housing, competitive employment, and positive family and social relationships.

TRANSITION TO INDEPENDENCE

THE SPOT

INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES SERVICES

Our partnership with families is essential in supporting youth and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. With a range of services including training, networking, assistance with applications and referrals, social opportunities, and community resource development, our staff offer supports throughout family life. Services are available through the Department of Developmental Services or by contacting the Family Support Center and Autism Support Center directly.

For school-age children and young adults, collaboration with families, school systems, and programs is important. Networks of support focus on giving families the tools needed to optimize the school years, time at home, and experiences within the community. Once an individual reaches teenage years, the Pre-Employment Transition Services can provide skill development to obtain and maintain employment.

PRE-EMPLOYMENT TRANSITION SERVICES

Vinfen’s Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) assist students between the ages of 14 to 22 by enhancing work-related skills through employment, social, and self-advocacy skills training. Pre-ETS is funded by the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) and serves students in Arlington, Belmont, Cambridge, Everett, Malden, Medford, Melrose, Somerville, Stoneham, Wakefield, Waltham, Watertown, and Winchester.

For more information, please contact Supported Employment Director Stephen Moulton at moultons@template.vinfen.org.

FAMILY SUPPORT CENTER

AUTISM SUPPORT CENTER

The Autism Support Center is designed to offer specialized expertise and provide an array of information and referral services, resources, and supports to children and young adults up to the age of 22 with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their families.

Services and supports include information and referrals, trainings, access to the latest information on autism, consultative clinics, support groups, parent and peer networking and mentoring, social/recreational events, and other activities.

The Autism Support Center also engages in active outreach to share information with families and community organizations about the resources we can provide.

AUTISM WAIVER PROGRAM

The Vinfen Autism Support Center also offers Autism Support Broker services for children up to the age of 9 who are enrolled in the Department’s Autism Waiver Program for Children. The goal of the Autism Waiver Program (AWP) is to help young children with autism using an intensive set of in-home supports and services to address the core deficits of Autism Spectrum Disorder including social emotional reciprocity, communication, and restrictive interests. The Program provides one-to-one behavioral, social, and communication-based interventions as well as related support services such as community integration and respite services.

DESE/DDS PROGRAM

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education / Department of Developmental Services (DESE/DDS) program serves participants referred by the Department of Developmental Services. DESE/DDS helps children and youth with special needs who are at risk of needing residential placement learn skills to support them to remain home with their families and to engage more in their community. Participants and their families can hire service providers and purchase a range of goods and services within an approved budget.

YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT SERVICES

COMMUNITY-BASED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES SERVICES

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