About

Our mission is to work alongside young people, families, and community partners to cultivate a supportive and responsive system of care that meets the needs of youth in order to successfully transition them into adulthood.

Lived Experiences

We value the deep understanding and empathy that come from lived experiences. By including individuals with similar backgrounds to the youth we serve, we create an environment that is nurturing, compassionate, and well-informed.

Adaptability

We meet young people, families, and communities on their own terms, staying flexible and responsive to ensure our support evolves with their changing needs.

Empowerment

We equip youth with the confidence, skills, and opportunities they need to take charge of their lives. By fostering self-belief and providing the tools for success, we inspire young people to overcome challenges, achieve their goals, and create meaningful change in their communities and beyond.

Community

We believe in the power of a supportive and inclusive environment where every individual feels valued and connected. By fostering collaboration and building strong relationships, we cultivate a sense of belonging that encourages mutual support, shared purpose, and collective growth.

Advocacy

We champion ideas and causes publicly to drive significant societal change, actively promoting fairness and creating opportunities that lead to impactful actions and positive transformations at both local and global levels.

The Youth in Transition program in Vermont has evolved over decades to support transition-aged youth (ages 16–21) with severe emotional disturbance (SED) and their families. Its story begins in 1988 with the Vermont State law Act 264, which established a coordinated system of care for children and youth with SED and their families. This Act set forth values and structures for the involvement of families and the coordination of services across education and human services. This laid the groundwork for coordinated support across the state’s 12 Local Interagency Teams (LITs), one per Agency of Human Services (AHS) district, tasked with building local care systems, as well as the State Interagency Team (SIT) and the Act 264 Advisory Board.

By 2005, a pivotal AHS/DOE Interagency Agreement expanded the eligibility for coordination of care to include all students eligible for special education and AHS services, emphasizing the transition to adulthood. This set the stage for a broader vision for a system of care for youth and young adults, crystallized in 2008 through a SAMHSA grant for the Vermont Youth in Transition (YIT) program. This six-year plan aimed to equip youth and young adults with SED with healthcare, education, jobs, housing, and adult mentorship to thrive in their communities and avoid jail, extending SIT’s reach to out-of-school youth and those in the adult criminal justice system. The federal grant project tackled Vermont’s rural challenges—like limited services, high poverty, and scarce transportation—and high incarceration rates for former DCF and mental health clients, proposing to enhance the system through LIT-led regional plans and the Jump On Board for Success (JOBS) model, enriched with effective practices like trauma-informed care and family support.

In 2015, YIT became a formal program with a legislative budget appropriation, a shift that sustained its mission but hit a snag: three regions—Newport, Rutland, and Barre AHS districts—lost funding, reducing coverage from 12 to 9 sites. Despite this, today’s YIT programs continue the work, partnering with state agencies, community mental health centers, and a broad array of youth services to bridge gaps for these “unclaimed” youth.

Our Strategies

Empowerment & Leadership

Developing the skills necessary to give youth the knowledge, confidence, means, or ability to make positive decisions for oneself and for their community.

Outreach

Exploring the community in search of at-risk, disconnected youth in order to connect them with supportive services that enhance their resilience, foster positive social connections, and promote healthy development.

Care Navigation

Providing support and guidance to young people in locating, accessing, and participating in services and support systems to minimize the negative effects of their mental health symptoms and to improve their overall well-being.

System of Care Collaboration