A National Context – Youth Empowered Solutions

A National Context for Positive Development Approaches

Wisconsin’s Youth Empowered Solutions (YES)! evolved from the work of researchers and mental health providers in a small number of states to improve the quality and appeal of services available to adolescents and young adults.

A consensus was developed in the early 2000s describing a promising combination of services and supports to address serious mental health conditions of youth and young adults. In an article written by Janet Walker from Portland University, she describes the components, how they were identified and a theory explaining the efficacy of this approach. (The analysis included information from Wraparound Milwaukee regarding the processes and outcomes from their work from 2009 to 2014.) 

The shared features identified as a promising combination include all of the following:

  • A person-centered approach, based on strengths and focused on the future.
  • Addressing connections to the community and natural supports.
  • Addressing empowerment/self-determination.
  • Addressing multiple domains.

An analysis intended to explain why this configuration resulted in positive outcomes identified the key drivers as the increase in executive functioning skills and other developmental tasks. Dr. Janet Walker summarized the results this way:

“Positive development interventions seek to restore and/or enhance the same developmental processes that drive maturation and growth for ‘typically developing’ peers who do not experience such daunting levels of challenge (as those of) people who are struggling, at-risk, and/or experiencing challenges or poor outcomes.”

Core principles that promote positive development include the following:

  • The provider conveys genuine respect for the young person and appreciation of them as a unique individual.
  • The entire process is driven by the perspectives and priorities of the young person.
  • The provider uses a motivational approach that is biased toward a focus on developing strengths and competencies. (Pathways RTC Pathways to a Positive Futures Model: Overview, pp 16-17).