Samhsa Bridging the Gap to Employment Video Series

Background:  Securing employment is an important step in transitioning to adulthood. However, it is not always easy, especially for transition age youth (TAY). These youth are homeless or at risk of being homeless and have unique service challenges because they are transitioning from child services to adulthood. Entry-level positions available to TAY may be low-paying and/or seasonal or temporary, providing inadequate or unstable funds for housing. By addressing unemployment alongside housing, homeless service providers can support TAY in building a life with secure employment and housing.

Program background:  Westat supports product development and dissemination for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) under the Knowledge Application Program (KAP). SAMHSA and Westat developed the Bridging the Gap to Employment video series to highlight successful components for TAY employment support programs.

Evaluation Methods and Results:  Westat determined eligibility criteria for site selection through key informant interviews and pre-screen calls with homeless and mental health service providers. Keys To Successful Employment Support Programs, the first video in the series, outlines key components contributing to the success of three selected programs. Every Young Person Can Work outlines key principles that frontline staff use to help TAY in these programs.  Lives in Transition, a set of three 2.5-minute videos, shares the experiences of TAY participating in these programs.

Conclusions:  These videos, with the accompanying viewer’s guide, can be valuable tools for providers to use in new staff orientation, in-service trainings, and educating policymakers and community members training and education.

Implications for research and/or practice:  Storytelling can provide an effective way to highlight successful program components for providers interested in employment support for TAY.