The TIP Mission

The mission of the Transition to Independence Process (TIP) system is to assist young people with emotional and/or behavioral difficulties (EBD) in making a successful transition to adulthood with all young persons achieving, within their potential, their goals in the transition domains of education, employment, living situation, and community life.

NNYT Mission Statement

The mission of the National Network on Youth Transition for Behavioral Health (NNYT) is to improve the progress and outcomes of youth and young adults (14-29 years of age) with emotional/behavioral difficulties (EBD) and the responsiveness of transition systems to their families. 

This mission is accomplished by:

• NNYT embracing the ideas, cultures, passions, and voices of youth and young adults as it partners with them in the development and evaluation of improved service systems for them and their families. 
• NNYT conducting program implementation, system development, research, and dissemination in collaboration with provider agencies, community collaboratives, states, and national/federal entities. 

Operationally NNYT serves the following major functions:

• Implementation of the Transition to Independence Process (TIP) model which is an evidence-supported practice for youth and young adults with EBD. 
  • Under the guidance of NNYT leadership, the Stars Behavioral Health Group (SBHG) Stars Training Academy serves as the official NNYT Purveyor to assist agencies and communities in the implementation of the TIP model for improving the outcomes of youth and young adults. 
• The NNYT Certification Board oversees the certification of NNYT TIP Model Consultants, TIP Model Sites, and NNYT TIP Model Site-Based Trainers. 
• NNYT Certified TIP Model Consultants are also assisting communities, states, and national/federal entities regarding policy and system reforms that enable agencies and community collaboratives to implement effective transition programs.        
• Several of the NNYT Faculty and Consultants are involved in research, evaluation, and continuing quality improvement efforts related to transition to adulthood issues.  NNYT has an extensive array of Fidelity and Continuing Quality Improvement tools that it makes available to its sites to support implementation and sustainability of effective transition systems.   

The National Network on Youth Transition for Behavioral Health (NNYT) now has two “hubs”

One is at the University of South Florida (USF) in Tampa FL and the other is at Stars Behavioral Health Group (SBHG) in Long Beach CA. SBHG serves as the NNYT Purveyor for the Transition to Independence Process (TIP) model and operates the NNYT Stars Training Academy. Although both NNYT hubs are involved in evaluation and continuing quality improvement efforts, the USF hub has more of an exclusive evaluation/research emphasis.

The Transition to Independence Process (TIP) Model, an Evidenced Based/Promising Practice, was developed by the National Network on Youth Transition (NNYT) at the University of South Florida to address the unique needs of Transitional Age Youth (TAY) with emotional and behavioral difficulties by preparing them for their movement into adult roles through an individualized process, engaging them in their own future's planning process, as well as providing developmentally-appropriate services and supports.

Stars Behavioral Health Group (SBHG), and the purveyor of the TIP Model, the National Network on Youth Transition (NNYT), have partnered with several community agencies and governmental entities to form community collaboratives designed to create Communities of Learning to implement and sustain the TIP Model within agencies that serve transitional-age youth.