Survey on Mental Health Needs of Youth Employment Programs

NYEC Survey on Mental Health Needs of Youth Employment Programs

The Surgeon General recently released an alarming report on youth and mental health. As you know, young people disconnected from school and work, systems-involved youth, and youth experiencing homelessness live with trauma and have been over-represented and underserved when it comes to mental health. The pandemic has intensified the need for mental health services while also adversely impacting the delivery of quality mental health services. We know there is a crisis, and we need to do better. To do this, we will need everyone’s help to understand how this new mental health pandemic has impacted the youth you serve, what processes and systems are in place, where we can improve, and what we will need to combat this on-going and heartbreaking challenge. The survey below will allow us to capture what is needed and what is working so we can advocate together to help our most vulnerable young people. The results of this survey will be shared with policymakers, federal and state partners, funders, and other youth-serving organizations to highlight the funding, services, and practices needed for youth employment programs to serve youth with mental and behavioral health needs. Please take a few minutes to answer the questions below by March 11th, 2022.
Name

First Name Last Name
Email
Survey results will be sent to you if an email is provided
Title/Role
E.g: Director, Program Manager, Assistant, etc.
Name of Organization
Location *
Please indicate the regions that your organization serves (select all that applies): *

International National (USA) State County City Local
Estimated number of youth served per year:
Type of organization: *
If other, please list your type of organization:
If a direct service agency, what types of programs do you have:

Employment Juvenile Justice related Education and afterschool Re-engagement Sports and recreation
Youth Age-groups served: *

Under 13 14-18 19-24 25-30
Annual Budget *
What kind of geography does your organization primarily serve? (Check all that apply.) *

Urban Suburban Rural Tribal
How is your organization primarily funded? *
Please identify the most common mental health conditions that you see in the youth you serve (Select all that applies):

Anxiety Depression Substance Use Disorder Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Obsessive Compulsive Disorders Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Behavioral Disorder General Trauma I don’t know
1) Does your organization have a process for screening and/or monitoring young people for mental health needs? *

Yes No
If no, do you refer them to a local mental health provider to do an assessment?

Yes No
If yes, when does the screening first take place?

First meeting Within the first week After enrollment Within the first month It varies considerably
What type of screening tool do you use?
Please check what types of mental health disorders you screen for:

Anxiety Depression Substance Use Disorder Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Obsessive Compulsive Disorders Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Behavioral Disorder General Trauma I don’t know
Please list any formal assessments you use and rank them in terms of helpfulness (1: Most Helpful - 5: Less Helpful)
Based on your screening process, what percentage of the youth you serve need mental health services/supports?
Percentages only -- If you don't have a screening process proceed to the next question.
If you don’t have a screening process, what is your best estimate of the proportion of young people who need mental health services?
Answer only if you don't have a screening process
2) Once a screening has been done, what type of follow-up typically occurs for non-emergencies (Select ALL that applies). *

Young person is given name of local mental health professional or agency and encouraged to contact them Staff, with the young person, calls local mental health agency or professional to schedule an appointment and makes sure young person has what they need to get there Staff submits application for services and provides young person with information for follow up. Staff refers young person to in-house mental health professional
3) In your estimation, what percentage of young people can access mental health supports when they are needed? Percentage* %
4) What are the most common mental health supports available in your community (Select ALL that applies)? *

Counseling Peer mentoring Prescription medicine Support groups Hospital or residential treatment I'm not sure
5) Are you able to track who receives services? *

Yes No
If yes, what type of tracking does your program do to ensure a young person is connected to services?
6) How quickly can a young person in need of mental health supports obtain an appointment with a mental health professional (either in-house or external)? *

Immediately Within a week Two weeks Four weeks Over one month Over two months Over three months Not sure
7) Do you feel your organization has sufficient resources to provide quality mental health training for staff development to direct service staff? *

Yes No

8) What are the biggest barriers your organization faces in getting young people the mental health supports they need? (Select all that applies): *

Availability of local mental health services for youth (no mental health services in-house or within the community Availability of flexible funding and/or org capacity to coordinate and provide in-house care/services Transportation Wait is very long for local mental health services No screening/identification process is in place Unable to access telehealth services Youth are often not comfortable with mental health services Staff untrained to screen/assess Cultural barriers Childcare Inadequate staffing/staff shortages
9) Please RANK ORDER (by rearranging the boxes below) the types of supports or resources you think would be most helpful for your program and staff. *
9A) Please list your "Other" from the previous question above if applicable:
10) What types of improvements would you like to see in the delivery of mental health services in your community (Select all that applies)? *

Funding strategies or funds to have an in-house clinician/clinical staff More local resources so youth won’t have to wait to access mental health supports More substance use disorder/rehab facilities Lower barriers for accessing mental health services Transportation available to attend appointments Childcare services for parenting youth who need to attend mental health appointments More responsive local mental health services, waits are too long More responsive local mental health services, barriers to accessing services too difficult
11) What are some of the successful strategies you have used to get mental health supports to young people? (Select all that apply) *

We have an in-house clinician/clinical staff We refer to local mental health provider and ensure youth has what they need to access We have a screening, referral and service delivery system that works very well in our community

12) How would you rate the local mental health support services for young people within your service area? *

	1	2	3	4	5

1 is Very Inadequate, 5 is Extremely Adequate

Please leave any additional comments, suggestions, and/or feedback below (optional):
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