YAPAbility
The YAPAbility Programme is an Intensive, community-based Service by YAP Ireland providing a 12 month programme to Young People aged 8 – 24 years and families who require an intensive, strengths based, needs led service to achieve their goals.
Whats YAPAbility
The YAPAbility Programme is a community-based support service by YAP Ireland, providing a 12 month Intensive Support programme to Young People aged 8 – 24 years and families who require a strengths based, needs led service to achieve their goals. Young people will be under 24 years old at the time of referral. This programme does not provide personal care.
How does YAPAbility work
The YAPAbility Programme uses a strengths based, needs led approach. Providing an intensive support, one-to-one service of up to 15 hours per week per client.
Who is the YAPAbility Programme for
The YAPAbility Programme caters for young people aged 8-24 who have been diagnosed or are awaiting a diagnosis of an intellectual or physical disability, behavioural disorders or whom have a mental health diagnosis.
YAP Ireland has a proven track record of providing services to young people and families with mental health and disability diagnoses.
YAPAbility provides a 12 month programme to Young People aged 8– 24 years and families who require an intensive, strengths based, needs led service to achieve their goals, within their community. This may include support to build on independent living skills, support in taking an active part in family, school/education and community life and reducing the risk of placement breakdown. Many of the young people will have diagnoses of Autism, Aspergers or are living with a mental health diagnosis.
Male Age: 12 with Prader Willi Syndrome
Reason for Referral: This young person was isolated in his community and did not engage in sports or recreational activities.
He struggled with social skills and struggled to make friends
He did not have any male role model.
He wanted to develop appropriate coping strategies and ways of expressing his dissatisfaction
Goals : The young person wanted to better control his emotions and not lash out at friends and family.
He wanted to develop coping strategies and not become aggressive toward friends or families.
His aim was to maintain his school placement and join a boxing club
How we achieved this: The YAP Advocate linked the young person into CAMHS and then into Jigsaw for support around his mental health.
The Advocate linked the young person into a local boxing club;
Promoted the needs of the family to the social work department and got his mother to enrol and complete the Non-Violent Resistance training.
The YAP Advocate discussed coping strategies with young person while on session.
Outcome: Young person joined the local boxing club and lost over a stone.
Mum is better able to understand and handle the young person due to the non-violent resistance training.
The young person is doing better in school.
The young person has extended periods without outbursts and with less intensity
Benefits to Young People and Families through YAPAbility:
Benefits to Funders through YAPAbility:
We’ve had a break through in the last few weeks and my son is now engaging with Advocate, it’s hard with Autism. (My son) is getting out and about with someone positive. The Advocate is a good role model. First few weeks were tricky but then they discovered that they have a mutual love for soccer and the gym. I’m delighted with everything.
Parent
I can now cope with my emotions and my relationship with my family is better.
Young Person
OUTCOMES – DISABILITY
We identified 234 young people with a disability/autism diagnosis at referral between 2011 and 2019. 80% showed an improvement in Self Esteem/Confidence; 83% improvement in Self Harm Behaviours; 80% in Parenting Skills, 82% in Education and 82% in enhancing home and community links.
The outcomes for these young people and families are very positive and in line with the outcomes of the whole cohort of Young people availing of the services of YAP.
OUTCOMES – MENTAL HEALTH
We identified 306 young people with a mental health diagnosis at referral between 2011 and 2019. 75% showed an improvement in Self Esteem/Confidence; 82% improvement in Self Harm Behaviours; 79% in Parenting Skills and 71% in attendance at school etc.
The outcomes for these young people and families are very positive and in line with the outcomes of the whole cohort of Young people availing of the services of YAP.