Integrating positive youth development into coordinated specialty care for a recent onset of psychosis

ABSTRACT

Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) for a recent onset of psychosis is widely implemented in the U.S., yet high disengagement rates persist. Integrating a Positive Youth Development approach (e.g., Transition to Independence Process (TIP) Model) may boost CSC engagement. TIP and CSC experts (n = 14) compared the TIP fidelity scale to an international CSC fidelity scale. Notes were thematically coded. To become more PYD-informed, CSC providers might: (1) re-conceptualize recovery, engagement, and goals; (2) adopt developmentally attuned language uniting multidisciplinary staff; and (3) strategically involve and expand participant social networks. Findings lay groundwork for CSC providers to integrate strategies to prevent premature disengagement. Takeaways

• Positive Youth Development practices likely can be integrated into Coordinated Specialty Care for first-episode psychosis.

• The TIP Model’s multi-phase developmentally focused futures planning process and strategic social support involvement may boost CSC engagement.

• The TIP Model holds merit for uniting multidisciplinary perspectives on CSC teams, promoting team collaboration and young person (and family & other relevant supportive people) engagement.

KEYWORDS:

• First-episode psychosis
• Coordinated Specialty Care
• Positive Youth Development
• transition to adulthood
• service engagement
• evidence-based practice
• treatment model blending

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).