Emerging Adult Services

 

Thresholds’ Emerging Adult Program offers three levels of care, including the Emerge Community Support Team (CST); MindStrong First Episode of Psychosis Program (FEP), and MindStrong Early Intervention for Clinical High Risk for psychosis (CHR-p) track. Services are offered in two locations – Chicago’s north and west sides and near west Cook County suburbs. Program participants must reside within geographic catchment areas designated around each site as services are community-based. Staff primarily meet with young adults in their homes and the area around their homes, though some programs also offer office-based services.   

These groundbreaking programs for young adults and their families offer skill development and support needed for young adults to master mental health challenges while reducing the negative impact of those challenges on what matters most to them: relationships, school success, recreational activities, health and wellness, day-to-day living, and early career experiences. Guided by the latest scientific evidence and recognized best practice, each Emerging Adult program provides a unique array of services that share common core principles and methods. We use the Transition to Independence Process (TIP) Model as our foundational approach. TIP leverages young people’s voice and preference, and empowers them to make decisions, experience outcomes, and learn with the support of their team and self-identified supportive adults. Services are primarily individualized and delivered by a team of mental health professionals trained in each evidence-based approach. Thresholds’ Emerging Adult Services provides young people experiential learning within their communities to maximize success.

Intake and Referrals 

Emerging Adult Intake can be accessed by calling 773-432-6555 or emailing youngadult@thresholds.org. Staff return messages within 24 business hours, conducting a brief phone screen with the caller – often a parent, or mental health professional, but sometimes the young adult themself – to gather basic background information. Eligible individuals are scheduled for an in-person intake meeting, ideally within 72 hours, to ensure program services will meet their mental health needs. 

All Illinois Medicaid plans are accepted, as are commercial insurance plans; please confirm with your insurance carrier that your plan is contracted at the in-network rate. 

 

Emerge Community Support Team (CST)

Comprehensive Behavioral Health Services  (ages 18-26) 

The transition to adulthood is a challenging time for any young person, but especially for those with serious mental illness. Emerging adults benefit from specialized support from people who understand this transitional phase as they navigate new challenges and responsibilities. Emerge CST was designed as a multidisciplinary, team-based program serving young people ages 18 – 26. Emerge specializes in providing services in a young adult’s natural environment, which could be their home, school, or a favorite local spot.

For questions and intake services, reach out to us at 773.432.6555 or YoungAdult@thresholds.org.

Emerge Team Services  

Young adults are the least likely age group to seek mental health services, yet many individuals begin to experience symptoms of serious, persistent mental health problems during this phase of life. Emerge is a multidisciplinary team rooted in the evidence-informed Transition to Independence Process (TIP) Model.  Emerge staff are skilled in engaging and partnering with young people to support their progress managing mental health problems while addressing vocational, relational, and independent living goals. 

Thresholds has two Emerge teams: Emerge North provides services to young adults on Chicago’s North side, and Emerge West provides services in Western Cook County and the Austin neighborhood on the city’s west side. Both teams provide multiple weekly in-home and community-based visits utilizing evidence-informed therapeutic approaches, including skills coaching, peer support, care coordination, education and employment support, psychiatry, medication monitoring, mentoring, goal development, and regular goal re-assessment. Emerge is a team-based approach; program participants will get to know and work with all staff on the team.

A primary focus of Emerge is to increase the natural social support and relational health among young people and their identified family members, friends, romantic partners, and others. To do this, Emerge offers individual therapy and family support and uses creative youth-directed strategies to bring peers together for educational, vocational, social, and cultural events. Most services are provided in the community.

 

Emerge CST Core Principles 

EMERGE CST IS DEVELOPMENTALLY FOCUSED ON EMERGING ADULTS

Emerging adulthood occurs between ages 18–26, spanning late adolescence and young adulthood. Emerge does not solely focus on mental health but instead focuses on all developmental and social determinants of wellness that are important for this age group: friends, romantic relationships, belonging, work, school and career exploration, developing independent living skills, and making smart decisions.

FOCUS ON DISCOVERY WHILE SUPPORTING RECOVERY

Recovery is an important theme for people with mental illnesses. It represents the values of improving health and wellness, living a self-directed life, and reaching one’s full potential.

Emerge embraces the notion of discovery as key for engaging and supporting young people in reaching their personal goals. Emerge staff frame their work as the act of supporting young adults in their self-discovery and learning through experience. Discovery also includes young people and Emerge staff gaining new insights together. Emerge remains curious without making assumptions or assuming the role of expert guide.

EMBRACING FLEXIBILITY TO BOOST ENGAGEMENT

Emerge responds to the instability that is common in emerging adulthood by remaining as flexible as possible in where, when, and how services are delivered. The team strives to effectively engage young people in their wellness journeys by remaining flexible, assisting in crises and challenging life situations, and adapting to young people’s needs as they develop new skills.

STRATEGIC USE OF SELF, SOCIAL ACTIVITIES AND GATHERINGS, AND FUN

Emerge embraces mutuality as an engagement tool. When relevant and appropriate, staff share their transition to adulthood experiences, e.g., managing money, dealing with roommates and family, figuring out a career, to validate struggles and provide concrete examples of how to navigate complex and stressful situations that are common in young adulthood. 

Emerge also hosts a variety of social activities that are tailored to the personal interests of their young people. Emerge embraces fun as a core practice – for participants and staff. Emerge leverages creativity, flexibility, and connections to community resources to develop new opportunities for self and communal learning and growth.

Emerge services are funded by Medicaid and certain contracted commercial insurance plans.

For Intake, contact Thresholds Emerging Adult Services at 773.432.6555 or email YoungAdult@thresholds.org.

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Five features of Emerging Adulthood: 

• Feeling in-between: Emerging adults do not feel like adults, nor do they feel like youth – and depending on the context, they can feel out of place. For those with mental health challenges, treatment options may feel inappropriate, perhaps because the services are geared towards younger youth, making them feel over-protective, paternalistic, or risk avoidant; or services are geared towards adults with lower activity levels and often longer-term mental health symptoms. 

• Self-focus: Emerging adults are exceedingly self-focused, exploring and experimenting with life options that minimize involvement with family or other trusted adults. Emerging adults can often function without the burden of responsibility to spouses, children, and community. 

• Age of possibilities: It is the time in the life span for the greatest amount of change, yielding the greatest amount of excitement, along with the anxiety that comes with change. Exploring different vocational options, living situations, and relationships is typical. 

• Instability: Given the frequency of change, there is immense instability across life domains. Instability is normal, but it can be stressful. For those with mental health challenges, instability can be acute with elevated risk and may create long-lasting consequences. 

• Relationship re-organization. Emerging adults experience major shifts in relationships with family, friends, and romantic partners. For those with mental health struggles, these shifts come with additional challenges as young people become legal adults and have more choice in how they involve family and support networks in their care. 

To learn more about Emerging Adulthood, check out Jeffrey Arnett’s work or his 2015 TED talk.

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MindStrong

MindStrong uses a multidisciplinary, evidence-informed approach to identify and treat young people at risk for or experiencing early psychosis symptoms. Early assessment and treatment are key to returning young people to a healthy and fulfilling life.

For intake, reach out to us at 773.432.6555 or email YoungAdult@thresholds.org. 

Psychosis is a complex medical condition in which changes in the brain make it difficult for a person to tell what is real and what is not. Psychosis can go undetected until the lives of a person and their family are substantially disrupted. Early psychosis experiences tend to be intermittent or happen gradually over many months. If you or a loved one identify with the experiences below, seek out treatment immediately. The earlier people experiencing signs of psychosis get help, the better the outcomes.

Psychosis affects 3 in every 100 people, regardless of race, ethnicity, sex, or socioeconomic status. Below is some information on the symptoms and early signs of psychosis.

Psychosis symptoms typically include:

• Hallucinations: hearing or seeing things that are not there

• Delusions: false or bizarre beliefs that make sense to the individual, including irrational suspicions of others

• Confused thinking: disorganized thoughts or speech; difficulty concentrating or understanding others

First Episode Services

MindStrong First Episode is designed for 14-40-year-olds who have experienced symptoms of psychosis for the first time within the last 18 months. The First Episode Program utilizes the Coordinated Specialty Care model and is part of the network of First.IL providers across Illinois. 

MindStrong partners with young people and families through a multidisciplinary team-based approach that integrates key elements from the most respected and scientifically validated early intervention practices. We utilize strategies that not only have the strongest evidence base but are creative and fun approaches to achieve goals. Instead of focusing solely on treating symptoms, we focus on addressing the impacts of symptoms on school, work, relationships, independence, and identity development. We are also working to teach young people, families, and greater Chicagoland how to recognize early signs of serious mental health challenges.

What you can expect from MindStrong services:

• Rapid assessment and individualized care planning: We work with you to understand the challenges you or your family member are experiencing and develop a personalized plan based on your needs, goals, and preferences.
• Individual therapy and coaching: Individual support and guidance can help you make sense of your experiences, manage symptoms, anticipate challenges, and prepare for difficult situations. We also help clients build on their strengths and move toward their envisioned future.
• Family education: Many family members are unsure how to respond when a loved one develops concerning symptoms. MindStrong FEP provides information and guidance to help families better understand these experiences, offer support, and maintain family balance.
• Supported employment and supported education: Mental health challenges can disrupt school and work. The sooner you get back on track, the less likely those disruptions are to affect your future. Our specialists provide support to help you achieve your educational and employment goals.
• Medication education and monitoring: Our prescribers are knowledgeable about the latest research on medications for mental health symptoms and early psychosis. We help individuals and families understand their options and make informed decisions, using a “low and slow” approach that starts with the lowest effective dose and adjusts as needed.
• Peer support: It can be helpful to connect with someone who has experienced similar mental health challenges. We provide opportunities to build relationships with peers who have faced and overcome similar struggles.
• Care coordination: It is common to feel overwhelmed and unsure of where to turn. We help coordinate services and resources to create a clear path toward your individual goals.