The CIRC Center Products
In addition to creating knowledge that can improve community participation outcomes among young adults with serious mental health conditions from populations that have been marginalized, the CIRC Center employs innovative dissemination strategies to share relevant information with interested individuals and groups.
From podcasts to blogs, to webinars and written products, you can find all our CIRC Center outputs on this page. Of course, don’t forget to check out all the great publications created by the Transitions ACR at www.umassmed.edu/TransitionsACR/publication.
Tip Sheet: What Is Community Participation?
The Center for Community Inclusion and Reflective Collaboration (the CIRC Center) is a research and training center that aims to significantly advance community participation outcomes among young adults (14–26) with serious mental health conditions from populations that have been marginalized or minoritized. The term community participation is used in mental health services and research to refer to community-based activities that promote overall health and wellness. However, many people find this concept to be confusing, vague, and hard to understand. This tip sheet will define “community participation,” describe relevant experiences of young adults (ages 14–26) with serious mental health conditions (SMHC) from populations that have been marginalized, and provide reflections from our various advisory boards of young adults, family members, and professionals in the field.
Tip Sheet: Demystifying Civic Engagement: How to Make Your Voice Heard (Beyond Voting!) & 5 Tips to Get Started
The term “civic engagement” is less intimidating than it sounds! Civic engagement describes the process taken by individuals or groups to identify and address issues of concern within their communities. Civic engagement can take many forms, from individual events such as working the polls, to longer-term, sustained efforts such as joining an advocacy group and educating others around issues that matter to you. This tip sheet outlines 5 ways to get involved in civic engagement that are in addition to voting OR that can be done before you’re old enough to vote.
S.T.A.Y. Tuned Podcast Episode 21: Improving mental health through community-based music, writing, and art programs
In this episode, we sit down with Davy, a musician and member of our young adult advisory board who shares his experience of using creativity and music to support his mental health. We discuss the transformative power of creative communities and their impact on mental health. Davy talks about discovering creative writing groups, and musician groups in both virtual and hybrid communities. He shares how structured environments, like virtual writing sessions and local art events, fostered accountability, inspired creativity, and provided a sense of belonging. Ready to get more creative? This episode offers practical tips on finding local resources, connecting with like-minded individuals, and enhancing your well-being through creativity. Read the Transcript. Watch it on our YouTube Channel
Webinar: Enhancing Community Participation among Young Adults with Serious Mental Health Conditions from Disadvantaged Backgrounds
Community participation across various domains — including employment, education, social relationships, and leisure activities — is essential during young adulthood yet can be challenging for those who experience a serious mental health condition and other sources of disadvantage.
During the presentation, Drs. Sabella and Thomas introduced the newly established CIRC Center which serves as a national leader in state-of-the-art research and knowledge translation activities dedicated to fostering community participation among young adults with serious mental health conditions from disadvantaged backgrounds. Download the webinar slides here. Watch it on our YouTube Channel
S.T.A.Y. Tuned Podcast Episode 17: Leveling Up Together: Gaming, Community, and Mental Health
There is a stereotype that gaming is a waste of time, but this episode with Derek Lewis, a member of our Young Adult Advisory Board challenges that notion head-on. Derek shares his personal journey, revealing how gaming became a lifeline for him while growing up in a gang-prone LA neighborhood. We talk about how gaming helped Derek build meaningful relationships, including one with a gamer friend who stood by him as his best man at Derek's wedding! Tune in to learn how virtual worlds can become real sources of support and community, proving that sometimes, the best friendships can be found behind a controller. Read the Transcript. Watch it on our YouTube Channel.
S.T.A.Y. Tuned Podcast Episode 13: Salsa Dancing, a Youth Advisory Board and Peer Support for Mental Health
Today we talk with Joshua Calarino, a member of our Youth Advisory Board, about ways getting involved in his community has helped his mental health. Joshua shares his journey from someone who struggled with their mental health in high school to the discovery of the different things he found that helped him feel better and more connected to his community. His story of recovery started when he said “yes” to an invite to a salsa dance class. We talk about Youth Move, peer support, and Joshua’s experience as a member of our Youth Advisory Board where he joins other young adult members to provide valued feedback from the youth perspective to our research team at Transitions to Adulthood Center for Research. Joshua highlights the impact that a strong sense of community can have on young adults’ mental health. Watch it on our YouTube Channel. Read the transcript.
