The Learning & Working During the Transition to Adulthood Rehabilitation Research & Training Center supports the development of evidence-based vocational interventions for transition-age youth (TAY) with diagnosed serious mental health conditions (SMHCs). In partnership with center PI Dr. Marsha Ellison at UMASS, PI Dr. Klodnick is leading the development, implementation and evaluation of an employer hosted paid work-based learning experience for TAY with diagnosed SMHCs. The study aims to synthesize research literature, conduct interviews with key informants (n=30; young people; family members, business leaders, vocational rehabilitation leaders), and engage in intervention and implementation mapping processes to guide model design and implementation. Then, the work-based learning experience will be tested for feasibility at employer site partners and preliminary impact. Overall, the effort advances scalable workforce participation pathways for young people with mental health challenges, and will contribute a publicly available practice manual, training tools and implementation strategies that employers can use.
