Transition to Adult Roles for Students With Emotional/Behavioral Disturbances

Abstract

Transition from adolescence to adulthood is especially challenging for youth and young adults with emotional/behavioral disturbances (EBD). The Transition to Independence Process (TIP) model serves to prepare and facilitate youth and young adults with EBD in their transition into adulthood roles through a person-centered and developmentally appropriate process. Using existing state and program data, this study compared the postsecondary outcomes (e.g., employment, postsecondary education, incarceration) of exiters from the Steps-to-Success Program, a TIP-based system serving secondary school students, to those of matched comparison groups of (a) other young adults with EBD who had services as usual and (b) young adults with no previous classification. Our results demonstrated the efficacy of the Steps-to-Success Program in improving postsecondary outcomes for youth with EBD.