Improving healthy connections in under-resourced youth: A YMCA San Diego mental health initiative

Abstract

Youth who have faced multiple challenges, including navigating underresourced contexts and systems, need innovative, comprehensive, and culturally responsive mental health services. The services should also leverage the strengths of youth and peers who can be trained as paraprofessionals to work with the professional mental health team in best supporting youth with complex psychosocial challenges. The current study conducted five focus groups to explore qualitatively the experiences of 33 youth with the CAVE approach of the Connections 2020 program of YMCA San Diego; an initiative to improve the relational competencies of transitioning child-welfare involved youth. The CAVE approach is focused on creating therapeutic relationships amongst participating youth, paraprofessional peers, and the professional mental health team, with a focus on compassion, awareness, validation, and empowerment. The focus groups’ highlight the following seven themes experienced by youth: improved emotion regulation; negative life experiences before joining Connections 2020; motivated by desire for stronger relationships and work experience; positive experiences during Connections 2020; finding mentorship and support through relationships with professional and paraprofessional coaches; most helpful skills learned are acceptance, tolerance, and how to manage emotions; and more prepared to handle difficult situations after Connections 2020. The findings underscore the feasibility and acceptability of applying a youth positive development framework to improve relationships and related skills for youth, leveraging their strengths, and integrating paraprofessional youth in improving mental health services.