Adolescent Teen Treatment Transport Under the Surface of Youth Behavioral Healthcare

This post is the first in what will be a series written by the Interactive Youth Transport (IYT) blog, a forum for open, honest discussion and learning about adolescent behavioral health and the world of treatment transportation. We aim to introduce you to what you might expect from us: who we are, what we value, and what we hope to see for improved care in this vital specialty area.

The reality of adolescent behavioral healthcare today is intimidating and daunting to a lot of families. The path through acute care hospitals and inpatient RTCs resembles a series of blind alleys and brick walls, leaving the majority of affected parents or guardians overwhelmed by a gauntlet that seems designed to be frustratingly opaque. In the middle of all this, there is transport. The logistical movement of a client from pickup to their destination. This seemingly small element of the process, but vital to the progression in treatment, becomes an interaction with far more stakes and opportunity than treatment transport is given credit for.

These transitions are more than procedural details. They are emotionally and clinically significant events, setting the stage for how an adolescent will start their next chapter of care. Research repeatedly demonstrates that the quality with which these transitions are managed can have a lasting effect not only on treatment success, but on the trust that families place in the transition and in those leading it.¹

Families that have gone through these transitions consistently tell us that they are among the most stressful times of the whole treatment experience. When transport is carried out without transparency and consideration at the core, parents describe having their lives turned upside down, and teens board planes or travel by vehicle to their next placements more rebellious and upset. Sadly, many existing models for transporting youth have focused on control and containment rather than transparency and compassion. In these scenarios, transport has caused distress for everyone involved, including the receiving program and intake viability.

At Interactive Youth Transport (IYT), we believe, through almost a decade of experience, that transport doesn’t have to be this way. A few years ago (2023), our team was restructured with the belief that transport isn’t just about delivering someone from A to B, it’s about meeting each adolescent and family where they are, at a critical, often vulnerable juncture. The foundation of this is an expectation that transport, like any other levels of care, should have the same clinical basis that one would expect in a time of volatility or varied diagnostic presentations. That is why masters-level clinicians are at the center of every transport, in oversight and communication, as well as navigating each client's individual considerations. On-the-ground staff are also held to higher standards of experience and training. The IYT model is rooted in trauma-informed care, clinical oversight, and a relational, dignity-first approach that sees each transition as an invitation to deeply impactful support and nurturing towards the beginnings of healing.

Yet, the evidence is overwhelmingly in support of this common-sense approach. Research has found that implementing trauma-informed approaches into transport for adolescents, prioritizing emotional safety, clear and honest communication, and providing adolescents a choice in the matter whenever possible, can lower distress and allow young people to connect more completely with their next level of care. Clinical involvement during the process is another key component. Teams featuring specialists trained in crisis de-escalation and relational support are simply better equipped to cater to the individualized needs of each individual and family.

We owe it to our families to respect lived experience and truly honor the family voice. When families, especially parents, are included, informed, and treated as true partners, trust develops and outcomes improve. At IYT, we are dedicated to ensuring that families will never, ever be kept in the dark. We’re deep about transparency, we’re transparent about every step, and we make sure the transported client, the support system around the client, everybody feels heard and supported.

The adolescent behavioral healthcare industry is undergoing shifts towards new standards toward transparency, collaboration, and clinical rigor. Transport services are uniquely positioned to lead this positive change. At IYT, we're actively adapting and setting higher standards to ensure that every adolescent transport is a therapeutic milestone rather than merely logistical and the results have spoken for themselves.  To read some of our recent successes, you can read the reviews direct from the families on the public google reviews found here.

To read about our process and more about IYT visit: Our Process About Us