Program helps young people transition to adulthood

Healthy Transitions is a program that offers mental health help and other services to young people transitioning into adulthood. The program mainly serves youth in Douglas and Sarpy counties, but Community Alliance says it can offer services to youth in other areas as well.

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Community Alliance is spreading the word about a program helping young people navigate mental health challenges. Through a game of cards, Clinton Cedardahl gets an update on how life is going for 23-year-old Taylor Barber.”Just to watch Taylor progress in the way that she has and where she’s came from, it’s inspiring,” Cedardahl said.Cedardahl is a care coordinator with Community Alliance’s Healthy Transitions program. He’s one of the people in Barber’s life who helped bring her from homelessness to where she is now. “I’ve struggled with homelessness for quite a while, since I was an adolescent,” Barber said. “Once I got to my adult age, I was struggling with a lot of addiction and things like that, and so, I realized that … I needed help.”Since getting in touch with the Healthy Transitions program, Barber has landed a job, is staying sober, and gets help with her mental health. “I don’t know where I would be at if I hadn’t reached out and came to this program,” Barber said.Erica Herrera is the program’s manager.”Healthy Transitions is a program that helps youth and young adults move from the youth services to the adult services,” Herrera said.If you think the program may help you, you can learn more here. You can also walk into their office at 7150 Arbor St. in Omaha and ask about the program. Herrera said more than 100 young people have gone through the grant-funded program, and she wants to see that number grow.”We mainly focus on the mental health pieces, but we also help with care coordination pieces. So … finding housing, connecting with community resources,” Herrera said.As for Barber, she’s got big dreams.”Singing has always been a passion of mine,” she said. “My goal is to audition for ‘American Idol.’ I also want to get a laptop and start making my own music.”She has advice for others who feel like the cards are stacked against them. “Being consistent and reaching out to this program and doing your own footwork as well will definitely help you in the long run,” Barber said. Healthy Transitions mainly serves youth in Douglas and Sarpy counties, but Community Alliance said it can offer services to youth in other areas as well.Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |

OMAHA, Neb. —

Community Alliance is spreading the word about a program helping young people navigate mental health challenges.

Through a game of cards, Clinton Cedardahl gets an update on how life is going for 23-year-old Taylor Barber.

“Just to watch Taylor progress in the way that she has and where she’s came from, it’s inspiring,” Cedardahl said.

Cedardahl is a care coordinator with Community Alliance’s Healthy Transitions program. He’s one of the people in Barber’s life who helped bring her from homelessness to where she is now.

“I’ve struggled with homelessness for quite a while, since I was an adolescent,” Barber said. “Once I got to my adult age, I was struggling with a lot of addiction and things like that, and so, I realized that … I needed help.”

Since getting in touch with the Healthy Transitions program, Barber has landed a job, is staying sober, and gets help with her mental health.

“I don’t know where I would be at if I hadn’t reached out and came to this program,” Barber said.

Erica Herrera is the program’s manager.

“Healthy Transitions is a program that helps youth and young adults move from the youth services to the adult services,” Herrera said.

If you think the program may help you, you can learn more here. You can also walk into their office at 7150 Arbor St. in Omaha and ask about the program.

Herrera said more than 100 young people have gone through the grant-funded program, and she wants to see that number grow.

“We mainly focus on the mental health pieces, but we also help with care coordination pieces. So … finding housing, connecting with community resources,” Herrera said.

As for Barber, she’s got big dreams.

“Singing has always been a passion of mine,” she said. “My goal is to audition for ‘American Idol.’ I also want to get a laptop and start making my own music.”

She has advice for others who feel like the cards are stacked against them.

“Being consistent and reaching out to this program and doing your own footwork as well will definitely help you in the long run,” Barber said.

Healthy Transitions mainly serves youth in Douglas and Sarpy counties, but Community Alliance said it can offer services to youth in other areas as well.

Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.