1. Heading Joseph Solomita, LCSW
Navigating Rough Waters: TIP Model™: Improving Outcomes for Youth & Young Adults with EBD
Joseph Solomita, LCSW

2. Today’s Presenter Joseph Solomita, LCSW
Managing Director, Stars Training Academy
Stars Behavioral Health Group*
*Stars Behavioral Health Group’s Stars Training Academy is the official Purveyor of the Transition to Independence Process (TIP) Model ™
© Copyright 2018 All rights Reserved – Stars Behavioral Health Group

3. Stars Training Academy’s Mission
To improve the progress and outcomes for:
Youth and young adults (14-29 years of age) with emotional/behavioral difficulties (EBD)
Through system development, program implementation,
research, & dissemination in collaboration with provider
agencies, communities, states, and national/federal entities.
© Copyright 2018– All rights reserved – Stars Behavioral Health Group  

4. Stars Training Academy Training Locations

5. Comparison of Transition Domains Between the General Population & Young People (YP) with EBD
Blackorby J., Wagner M. Longitudinal postschool outcomes of youth with disabilities: Findings from the National Longitudinal Transition Study. Except Child 1996; 62:
Clark, H.B. & Davis, M. (Eds.) (2000): Transition to adulthood: A resource for assisting young people with emotional or behavioral difficulties. Baltimore: Brookes Publishing.
Karpur, A., Clark, H.B., Caproni, P., & Sterner, H. (2005).  Transition to adult roles for students with emotional/behavioral disturbances:  A follow-up study of student exiters from a transition program.  Career Development for Exceptional Individuals, 28(1),
Vander Stoep, A., Davis, M., & Collins, D. (2000). Transition: A time of developmental and institutional clashes. In H.B.Clark & M. Davis (Eds.) Transition of Youth and Young Adults with Emotional/Behavioral Disturbances in Adulthood: Recommended Practices, Research Findings and Policy Implications (pp. 3-28). Baltimore, MD: Brookes Publishing Company.
Vander Stoep, A., Beresford, S.A.A., Weiss, N.S., McKnight, B., Cauce, A. M., &
Cohen, P. (2000). Community-based study of transition to adulthood for adolescents with psychiatric disorders. American Journal of Epidemiology, 152,

6. Likelihood of Youth with EBD Being Incarcerated
Prange, M. (1993). A longitudinal perspective of youth with conduct disorder problems. Paper presented at the Rehabilitation of Children, Youth, and Adults with Psychiatric Disabilities Conference, Tampa, FL. Waves 1-7; N=497
© Copyright 2018– All rights reserved – Stars Behavioral Health Group  

7. Barriers Youth & Young Adult Level Family Level Community/System Level
  © Copyright 2018– All rights reserved – Stars Behavioral Health Group

8. TIP Model ™
The Transition to Independence Process TIP Model™ is a strength-based, youth-driven, evidence-supported practice that has been shown to be effective in improving the quality of life across Transition Domains for youth & young adults.

9. What is the TIP Model™? The TIP Model™:
Engages youth and young adults (14-29 years) in their own futures planning process
Provides them with developmentally-appropriate services and supports
Involves them and their families and other informal key players in a process that prepares and facilitates them in their movement toward:
O greater self-sufficiency and
O successful achievement of their goals

10. TIP Model Improves Progress & Outcomes
Engaging &
Supporting Education, Employment &
Career Development
establishing readiness to address issues
Building & nurturing relationships
& social supports
Developing emotional coping & self- management skills
Addressing trauma, substance use/abuse, & other challenges
Teaching relevant life- skills for community & home-type settings
The TIP Model is a Case Management/Care Coordination Practice that exclusively addresses the needs of Transition Aged Youth such as supported employment, education, housing, relationships, emotional regulation/trauma, and life skills
This diagram illustrates how a Community Partnership can utilize the TIP Model as an overall engagement and intervention practice framework for impacting youth and young adults in transition who have serious mental health, substance abuse conditions, and/or other related challenges.
The TIP Model engages youth and young adults, to establish readiness, to teach relevant competencies, develop decision-making and problem-solving skills, assist young people in building valued social supports, and to facilitate youth and young adults in setting goals and moving forward on their own transition goals. Other evidence-based interventions can be applied within this TIP Model Framework based on a young person’s clinical or service needs
(e.g., targeted tx for substance abuse, chronic trauma, anger management, or specialized services like supported employment & education where additional aids are needed related to these goals).

11. TIP Model™ Guidelines
1) Engage young people through relationship development, person-centered planning, and a focus on their futures.
2) Tailor services and supports to be accessible, coordinated, appealing, non-stigmatizing, and developmentally-appropriate -- building on strengths to enable the young people to pursue their goals across relevant transition domains.
3) Acknowledge and develop personal choice and so responsibility with young people.
Engage young people through relationship development, person-centered planning, and a focus on their futures.
2. Tailor services and supports to be accessible, coordinated, appealing, non-stigmatizing, and developmentally-appropriate -- building on strengths to enable the young people to pursue their goals across relevant transition domains.
3. Acknowledge and develop personal choice and social responsibility with young people.
© Copyright 2018 All rights reserved – Stars Behavioral Health Group  

12. TIP Model™ Guidelines
4. Ensure a safety-net of support by involving a young person’s parents, family members, and other informal and formal key players.
5. Enhance young persons’ competencies to assist them in achieving greater self-sufficiency and confidence.
6. Maintain an outcome focus in the TIP system at the young person, program, and community levels.
7. Involve young people, parents, and other community partners in the TIP system at the practice, program, and community levels
Engage young people through relationship development, person-centered planning, and a focus on their futures.
Tailor services and supports to be accessible, coordinated, appealing, non-stigmatizing, and developmentally-appropriate -- building on strengths to enable the young people to pursue their goals across relevant transition domains.
Acknowledge and develop personal choice and social responsibility with young people.
  © Copyright 2017– All rights reserved – Stars Behavioral Health Group

13. TIP Model™ Core Practices
Strength Discovery and Needs Assessment
Futures Planning
Rationales
In-vivo Teaching
Problem Solving (SODAS)
Mediation with Young People & Key Players (SCORA)
Prevention Planning (WHATSUP)
TIP Solutions Review (TSR)
© Copyright 2018– All rights reserved – Stars Behavioral Health Group

14. Educational Opportunity Personal Effectiveness & Wellbeing
Transition Domains
Employment & Career
Living Situation
Educational Opportunity
Community
Life
Functioning
Personal Effectiveness & Wellbeing
Talk about how impairments occur in each domain May elaborate briefly on each with examples
This domain graph is good to show YP because they are visual
It maps for them what they need to focus on and what to do to take independence to next level
© Copyright 2018– All rights reserved – Stars Behavioral Health Group

15. What is Futures Planning?
Futures Planning is to define the life a youth wishes to live & describe what will assist the youth in moving toward that life all from the youth’s perspective.

16. Planning Partners & Necessary Connections
formal or informal key players the YP would feel most comfortable with and supported when discussing future, needs or goal.
Necessary Connections
formal or informal key players the YP doesn’t want ( but needs) involved in planning
Ask participants 1st:
Who might be planning partners?
formal or informal key players the YP would feel most comfortable with and supported when discussing future, needs or goal.
Who are necessary Connections?
formal or informal key players the YP doesn’t want involved in planning
Example for addressing Necessary Connection:
YP wants transitional housing, but doesn’t like to talk to TH Case Managers
How do you respond to this YP?

17. Strengths to Help Meet Goals
Name:
My Vision:
Career
Living Situation
Community Life
Education
Taking Care of Me
Transition Domain:
_______________
Goals to Reach Vision
Strengths to Help Meet Goals
Next Steps
Who Takes Action?
Target Date
Status

18. Lorne’s Story

19. A Knock on the Door
My Story

20. Meth use
1st 2 knocks

21. Scariest knock = DCFS

22. Visits with Mom Saved food Waited for her Boyfriend in running car
Visits = mom passed me the pipe

24. TIP System Guideline #5
Learned to study
Drive
Job
College
Click
Enhance YPs competencies to help them in achieving greater self-sufficiency & confidence.

25. Developmental Markers: Rights of Passage into Adulthood
Completing schooling & training.
Developing a social network.
Obtaining/maintaining rewarding employment/career.
Becoming financially self-supporting.
Participating in your community & being a
good citizen.

26. Recent Research on the TIP Model: Progress & Outcome Studies

27. Evaluation of Progress & Outcomes for Youth & Young Adults at a New TIP Model™ Site Muskegon County, Michigan
First 12 months of TIP Model™ supports and services.
TAS Transition Facilitators (TFs) working with 29 youth & young adults
over first 12 months.
Main referrals from court, juvenile justice, & probation.
Age of YP: 14 – 26 years old.
YP have serious mental health conditions (SMHC) & at risk of,
or extensive histories of, out of home placements, co-occurring
substance use (e.g., Cannabis Dependence,
polysubstance dependence), developmental trauma,
&/or multiple-system involvement.
Presenter:
If any questions regarding this TIP model / TAS team initial evaluation, please contact Kelly France or Hewitt B. “Rusty” Clark

28. TIP Model Implementation: New Site Findings
Community Life & Living Situation Progress Indicators

29. TIP Model Implementation: New Site Findings
Education & Employment Progress Indicators
Presenter: A note of clarification. Regarding the fourth set of bars “Graduated HS / GED”, three of the 29 participants had graduated prior to entering the Transition Age Service (TAS) Team TIP model services.

30. Research Findings on the TIP Model
Numerous published studies that demonstrate improvement in real-life outcomes for youth and
young adults with EBD.
Refer to Theory and Research“ section of the
TIP Model™ website.