Continuing Care Division
Carole Powell, MSW, Division Director

Young Adult Services

Contact: Heather Victoria, Manager
Willimantic Area

The Young Adult Services Program serves young adults ages 18 to 25, male and female, in the Willimantic area.  Clients have a diagnosed mental illness and need community-based support services.  The service design includes clinical, case management, vocational, educational, recreational, housing and psychiatric services.  The underlying philosophy is to promote client empowerment and recovery in a community setting.

An integral part of this service delivery will be supported housing which will include a drop-in center, respite bed, transitional housing and scattered site apartments with client-held leases.  Case managers will assist YAS clients with obtaining and maintaining housing.

Goals of the Program:

• Assist in developing social system supports
• Fostering school success and vocational readiness
• Fostering pro-social behaviors
• Fostering independent living and social skills
• Fostering relationships by using both traditional and nontraditional supports
• Emphasizing stabilization through supports rather than office-based therapy
• Reinforcing substance abuse prevention
• Using planned step-downs to less intensive levels of support
• Providing continuity of care

Eligibility:  Young adults, male and female, ages 18 to 25, with a history of involvement with DCF may be referred.  Clients may also be referred by family members, Local Mental Health Authorities, schools or other providers.  All referrals will be reviewed by the Clinical Director of DMHAS Young Adult Services before placement.

Funded by the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services