A Film Series
Understanding Transition Age Youth
The story of youth becoming adults set in the world of child welfare and the justice system
Synopsis
Understanding Transition Age Youth is designed to raise awareness about the unique trauma-related needs and strengths among transition age youth (TAY). It highlights the stories and experiences of a diverse group of system-involved, youth adults who have transitioned out of child welfare and juvenile justice settings. The film series consists of a combined version as well as four separate episodes that highlight messages for each service setting or topic area in more detail: Part 1: TAY in Juvenile Justice; Part 2: TAY in Child Welfare; Part 3: Coping and Resilience; Part 4: Moving Forward.
Examining trauma across child-serving settings
The story of youth becoming adults set in the world of child welfare and the justice system. These transition age youth have powerful insights to offer those following in their footsteps and to the adults who support them.
Increasing what you know about Transition Age youth (TAY)
Establishing supportive relationships and building strengths, and resources with transition age youth that promote healing and resiliency are among the most important steps that providers and child serving systems can take.
The transition age youth featured in this film have powerful insights and suggestions to offer other youth and the providers who support them. We created this documentary film series to raise awareness about the unique needs and strengths among transition age youth (TAY) impacted by trauma. This film highlights the stories and experiences of a diverse group of system-involved youth and young adults who have transitioned out of child welfare and juvenile justice settings. It offers ideas and strategies that providers can use to build resilience with youth as they transition out of these systems, and to facilitate partnership with youth as well as systems change.
A film series developed with the Center for Child Trauma Assessment, Services, and Systems Integration (CCTASSI).
Advocating for children with the powerful medium of storytelling through film, Nathanael & Christina Matanick have spearheaded a host of projects amplifying the voices of kids affected by vulnerable home situations, poverty, the child welfare system, and the juvenile justice system. In this documentary, rare glimpses into these worlds are given through the eyes and voices of those freshly experiencing them, inviting all of us to cultivate deeper compassion and translate that into more effective practice serving, advocating, and caring for youth transitioning into adulthood.
Dr. Cassandra Kisiel is a Professor, a clinical psychologist, and Associate Director within the Mental Health Services and Policy Program and the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. She is the Principal Investigator and Director of the Center for Child Trauma Assessment, Services and Systems Integration, a longstanding, federally funded Center of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) that specializes in supporting child-serving systems in developing the infrastructure to understand, assess, and respond to the complex, developmental effects of childhood trauma. Dr. Kisiel has 25 years of experience specializing in complex trauma, including a focus trauma-informed practices within child-serving settings; trauma assessment and evaluation; dissociation, resilience, strengths and protective factors. She has published, lectured and trained extensively in these areas.