Become a member of the California Youth Empowerment Network (CAYEN)

CAYEN (pronunciation /kiyen/)

Youth that are transitioning from young adulthood to living on their own seem to have been left behind and forgotten about when it comes to assistance services. CAYEN is a new network created to get the youth voice heard and reflected in public policy decisions throughout California. The current mental health services in California focus almost entirely on children and adults. CAYEN aims to bring attention to policy and advocacy for the youth between the ages of 16-25. We hold conference calls every month and are planning quarterly leadership meetings (both statewide and local) to gather opinions on pending policy issues and solicit new ideas regarding what we can do to improve state county and private mental health systems and other systems that impact the ability of youth to succeed.

We were created by and supported by the Mental Health Association in California and its local chapters - (most of which have now been renamed as Mental Health America affiliates- our national organization). Through this we have the ability to take the ideas we hear and make sure that they are reflected in decisions made by policy makers. We have the ability to directly influence the Governor, State Legislators, the State Department of Mental Health, the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission, County Mental Health Directors and County Supervisors.

We have been designing centers for Transition Age Youth that will be a safe place for youth to go to receive services from the people they trust the most, their peers and developing programs and services to help youth get services, jobs, benefits, insurance and other help they may need. Through experience we have found that youth that have been through the mental health system and have come out on the other side are the best advocates for the youth that are currently in the system. CAYEN is designed to encourage these young “survivors” to speak up and tell us what they need because anything is possible.

We also welcome as associate members and as participants (sometimes jointly and sometimes separately)the family members and professionals seeking to help these young people as their perspectives are also important in developing the best answers to challenging problems.