The Mississauga Halton Local Health Integration Network (MH LHIN) recently announced support for more services for young men and women (ages16 to 24 years) who are experiencing mental health and/or addictions challenges as they transition into the adult system. A new initiative called Transitional Aged Youth (TAY) leverages the existing strengths of local health organizations that provide existing mental health and/or addiction services for children and adults in both community and hospital settings. TAY aims to ensure that there is enhanced support in the community to allow youth living in the LHIN to seamlessly transition to adulthood services.
TAY focuses on:
- Improved services for youth and young adults;
- Increased access for youth to mental health and addiction services;
- Prevention and management of chronic conditions.
This initiative will enable more than twenty service providers to increase community-based services for transitional aged youth, and promotes continuity of service through the provision of flexible supports that ensure successful engagement into adult services. This new investment has allowed local health service providers to hire new staff, including case managers and coordinators, career planners, clinicians/therapists and other health care providers, and provides specialized training in helping youth with mental illness/addictions.
This programming has been made possible by new funding, and is a partnership between local mental health and addictions service providers; the Mississauga Halton LHIN and Halton Healthcare Services; The Credit Valley Hospital and Trillium Health Centre; Support & Housing Halton; STRIDE – Supported Training and Rehabilitation in Diverse Environments; and ADAPT – Halton Alcohol Drug and Gambling Assessment Prevention and Treatment Service.
For more information go to www.mississaugahaltonlhin.on.ca.