Scaffolding and Support Beams: Clinical and Administrative Tools for Emerging Adult Programs

ABSTRACT

Emerging adulthood is a critical time in normative development as well as in the emergence of a wide range of psychopathology, and it is imperative that appropriate treatments be developed and disseminated to this age group. Despite the importance of this developmental period, emerging adults are among the least likely to access and remain engaged in treatment, and there is a paucity of developmentally informed treatments for this period. Drawing from lessons from other systems of care, including the foster care system, pediatrics, select medical subspecialties, and education, we outline recommendations for clinicians and administrators across treatment settings to improve and adapt treatment for emerging adults. We include several clinical and administrative tools that may assist with implementation of these treatment adaptations. It is our hope that these tools and recommendations will contribute to and advance the growing conversation about improving mental health treatment for emerging adults.

KEYWORDS:

• Emerging adults
• young adults
• transition
• development

Acknowledgments

We thank Jonathan Alpert, M.D., Ph.D. and Mary Fristad, Ph.D. for their valuable comments and feedback on drafts of the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.