Each Year, One in Ten Adolescents Will Have a Serious Emotional Disorder That Disrupts

Bridge for Resilient Youth in Transition (BRYT)

Each year, one of every ten adolescents has a serious emotional disorder that often results in a psychiatric hospitalization or prolonged absence from school and disrupts schooling, home life and friendships. For these teens, re-entry into school is fraught with problems including depression, fear of relapse, anxiety, and fear of social rejection. With such issues affecting them, these youth are at high risk for academic failure and social isolation. Their families are often in crisis as well, as they try to navigate the maze of medical, mental health, and substance abuse systems. The complex needs of these students require more support than most public high schools are able to provide.

What We Do: Bridge for Resilient Youth in Transition (BRYT) is a unique response to help teens and their families tackle these issues where health happens. Two school-based Clinical Coordinators (social workers) and a Classroom Aide work closely with students and their families during a crisis and through the four- to eight-week re-entry process.

The Coordinators provide clinical care, offer support and information, help families negotiate the service network, and facilitate communication with health care personnel and therapists and between students and teachers. A specialized "Home-base" classroom located right in the high school serves as a safe place where students can check in as needed during the day, receive tutoring, and get counseling and academic support.

Helping Teens Succeed:  Over 480 teens served since 2004  90% of BRYT students continued their schooling without disruption  BRYT students show improved school performance on standardized measures  Families report decreased stress and anxiety  BRYT is cost-effective: only $2,000 per student to prevent out-of-school placements that cost $45,000 per student  The BRYT model has been successfully replicated by several different Massachusetts communities including Arlington, Concord-Carlisle, Hingham, Lexington, Natick, Needham, Sharon, Wayland, Weston and Wellesley. Boston Latin, Framingham, and Winchester, are in the start-up (first year) phase of program operation. Amherst, Billerica, Everett and Lincoln- Sudbury, are planning to initiate a program in the next one to two years.

Helping Better Health Take Root in our Community The success of the Bridge for Resilient Youth in Transition program model in over ten communities demonstrates its effectiveness. We are working to replicate the program in communities across the state, to serve teens who reflect the geographic, socioeconomic and ethnic diversity of the Commonwealth.

Contact Information: Annie Eagle, LICSW 617-713-5021 [email protected] Katherine Houle, LICSW (617) 312-1979 [email protected] Henry White, M.D. (617) 277-8107 [email protected]

41 Garrison Rd. Brookline, MA 02445 617-277-8107 Brooklinecenter.org