Opening the Door to Youth Involvement
Youth-guided means that youth and young adults are on their way to having a voice in their mental health treatment and related systems of care. Every child, youth and young adult has strengths and capabilities that can be developed and/or utilized in decisions related to their care.
Thrive offers a safe, caring and nurturing environment for youth with mental health challenges to learn to become change agents in their own lives and communities. We value personal experiences, and support youth in their efforts to use these experiences to improve systems that are serving or once served them.
We support youth efforts to make positive changes in their lives. We understand the stigma of having a mental health diagnosis and being involved in systems of care. We embrace differences, celebrate uniqueness and share personal stories with other youth, professionals and community members to show youth resiliency. We train providers on positive youth development and how to use youth voice, and we provide youth with opportunities to recommend program and policy change.
Thrive is committed to program development and offerings that empower youth to lead healthy, safe and productive lives, and to use their voice for systems transformation.
Thrive youth:
- Live in Androscoggin, Franklin or Oxford County
- Are ages 14-23
- Seek change in themselves and their community
- Have experience in mental health, juvenile justice, special education, child welfare or other system
- Advocate for youth voice in these systems of care
- Help educate and train providers
- Support reducing stigma from association with these systems
- Improve and recover, and deserve dignity and respect
- Want to help a friend…
- And have fun!
Thrive offers the following youth trainings:
- Leadership development
- Self-advocacy: Using your story
- Understanding your role in treatment planning
- Public speaking and facilitation
- Creating change in your community
- Social skills
- Life skills
- Peer-to-peer support