The Transition Age Youth Mental Health Division promotes wellness and community participation of young people by integrating developmentally and culturally attuned services locally and nationally. Our work is centered around multidisciplinary community-based care, near-age peer support, and vocational approaches that align with young people’s values and goals. We specialize in tailoring practice models and develop practice tools, research and training to improve strategies for engaging and supporting young people in the real world.
Explore Our Work
The Chicago Youth Innovation Hub aims to enhance service systems and practices to promote mental health and wellness for young people and families in Chicago and beyond.
We conduct research and support organizations to integrate youth voice and young adult lived experience perspectives, developmentally-attuned multidisciplinary care, and near-age peer support.
We provide tailored training and consultation to improve engagement and outcomes, providing on-site needs assessment, technical assistance, capacity enhancement, workforce development, and team-building workshops.
We work with agencies across the country to implement enhancements to supported employment—including education services, career exploration, peer support, and community navigation.
Our team has developed and overseen youth-led advisory boards in Illinois and Texas, and led national conversations centering TAY experience and expertise.
We have expertise leading national and local youth and young adult peer support research, training, resource and workforce development projects.
Contact Us
Vanessa Klodnick, Ph.D., LCSW
vanessa.klodnick@austin.utexas.edu
Molly Lopez, Ph.D.
mlopez@austin.utexas.edu
Deborah Cohen, Ph.D., MSW
dacohen@austin.utexas.edu
Rebecca Johnson, MA, LCPC
rebecca.johnson1@austin.utexas.edu
Brianne LaPelusa, MFA, CRSS
bri.lapelusa@austin.utexas.edu
Abby Mayhue, BA
abigail.mayhue@austin.utexas.edu
