Unfortunately, despite these facts, and efforts by DCF and DMHAS to meet this demand, the status of young adults with psychiatric disabilities in Connecticut is reaching crisis proportions. We lack the timely, collaborative programmatic and fiscal planning and resources necessary to mitigate the effects of behavioral health problems and promote their successful transition to adulthood. As a result, many of these youth become trapped in a cycle of homelessness and/or involved with the criminal justice system.

Lives and taxpayer dollars are being wasted at an increasing rate, as the number of referrals of young adults from DCF to DMHAS rises dramatically, and other young adults, frustrated with the bureaucracy, simply “drop out.” Between 1996 and 2005, the referrals from DCF to the DMHAS Central Office increased more than 1000%, and these figures do not include the new young adult cases that were accepted directly by the adult system. DMHAS has reported that the number of clients ages 18 through 25 served in SFY 2003 (4244) was more than 17% higher than the preceding year (3622).

Compounding this problem is the fact that many of these young people have intensive service needs related to both their serious psychiatric condition and years of institutionalization in hospitals and/or residential programs with minimal preparation for adulthood. DCF has reported that 25% of DMHAS referrals between 2003 and 2004 required a higher level of care than was available from DMHAS specialized young adult service programs, and these programs were not available on a statewide basis.

Steps must be taken in the 2008 Legislative session to address this crisis, including:

1) Expanding Young Adult Service (YAS) program statewide to reach the remaining Local Mental Health Authorities with no existing services;

2) Mandating that DCF identify youth with mental health needs at the age of 14;

3) Establishing interagency teams with access to sufficient resources and specialized services to develop plans to prepare youth in all settings for adulthood and engage them in individualized, age-appropriate services;

4) Identifying unserved or underserved youth who “fall through the cracks” through training and linkages with other state agencies (DSS, DOC);

5) Specialized housing models or therapeutic foster homes that allow the young adults to remain in place after turning 18 & becoming a DMHAS client;

6) Creating an oversight council to monitor compliance with these objectives and make recommendations for modifying and improving this system.