Bridge Coalition Meeting April 28th
Opening Comments (Jim):
- Introductions via chat were done
- A broad overview of NorthStar Advocates Mission and purpose was discussed,
- Focusing on return to community: safe housing, relationships, and supporting young adults facing unaccompanied homelessness interests and passions.
The Bridge Scope and Vision (Mayauna):
- High rate of return to homelessness for young people exiting inpatient care,
- Cross-system information sharing and training,
- Developing Return To Community Plan,
- Developing opportunities for systems reform.
- Introduced the Youth & Young Adult Behavioral Health Summit that NorthStar Advocates hosted with the Y4Y Board
The April Bridge Coalition meeting was a powerful and grounding conversation, bringing together system partners, providers, and young people with lived experience in both homelessness and behavioral health conditions to focus on neurodivergence within the behavioral health and housing systems.
This meeting highlighted both updates from the SHB 1929 houses and deeper system-level insights, culminating in lived experience presentations and key findings from the recent Youth & Young Adult Behavioral Health Summit that NorthStar Advocates hosted with the Y4Y Board.
SHB 1929 Updates
Friends of Youth Updates
Friends of Youth shared updates on their Bridge Housing programming, including continued efforts to support young people transitioning out of inpatient behavioral health settings.
Key themes included:
- Ongoing focus on stabilization and transition support
- Navigating capacity and referral coordination
- Continued collaboration with system partners to ensure smoother discharge pathways
Their work continues to highlight the importance of consistent, relationship-based support during critical transition periods.
Excelsior Wellness Updates
Excelsior Wellness provided updates on their programming and growing role within the Bridge Housing system.
Highlights included:
- Expansion of services supporting young people with complex behavioral health needs
- Continued emphasis on access points and referrals
- Efforts to strengthen cross-system coordination, particularly with inpatient providers
Their updates reinforced the importance of accessible entry into services and ensuring providers across the system understand how to connect young people quickly and effectively.
Lived Experience Presentations: Neurodivergence
One of the most impactful parts of the meeting came from three lived experience advocates, who shared powerful and complementary perspectives on navigating systems as neurodivergent young people.
- The first speaker provided a thoughtful and extremely detailed overview of neurodivergence, offering a broader definition and helping ground the audience in what it means to experience and move through the world and systems being neurodivergent.
- The second speaker shared deeply personal lived experience, speaking not only about their own journey but also the impact on and experiences of their family members, bringing a relational and real-life lens to the conversation.
- The third speaker reflected on how systems can define and label individuals, and the lasting impact that can have. They emphasized the importance of seeing people beyond their records or files, reminding the group that individuals are not broken, but often navigating systems that were not designed for them.
Together, their reflections brought forward several critical realities:
- Neurodivergence is often misunderstood or overlooked within both housing and behavioral health systems
- Many environments—especially shelters and behavioral health service settings—can be overstimulating and difficult to navigate
- Communication styles and expectations within systems often do not align with how neurodivergent individuals process information
At the same time, speakers emphasized:
- The strength, adaptability, and insight that comes with neurodivergence
- A strong desire to be included in shaping better systems for others
This portion of the meeting grounded the conversation in real, lived experiences, reinforcing why system design must evolve.
Neurodivergent Summit: Key Findings
Following the presentations, a data and findings brief was shared from the Youth & Young Adult Behavioral Health Summit that was hosted by NorthStar Advocates with the Office of Homeless Youth Y for Y Board which focused on neurodivergence.
Who We Heard From
- 26+ young people participated
- 73% had experienced homelessness in the past, with an additional 27% currently experiencing it
- Nearly all participants 97% had engaged with behavioral health services, either currently or in the past
Key Themes from Young People
Across both the summit data and lived experience presentations, several consistent themes emerged:
- System Navigation is Overwhelming
Young people described systems as confusing, complex, and difficult to navigate, especially without guidance.
- Systems Are Not Designed for Neurodivergence
Participants emphasized that many services are built for neurotypical individuals, creating barriers to engagement and success.
- Sensory & Environmental Barriers
Shelters and service environments were often described as:
- Overstimulating
- Loud or chaotic
- Difficult to tolerate for extended periods
- Lack of Individualized Care
Many young people shared that services feel:
- Rigid
- One-size-fits-all
- Not reflective of their unique needs or experiences
- Feeling Unheard or Misunderstood
A strong theme across responses was the feeling of:
- Not being listened to
- Not being included in decision-making
- Having limited voice in their own care
- Strength & Resilience
Despite barriers, young people consistently highlighted:
- Self-awareness
- Adaptability
- A desire to improve systems for future generations
What Young People Say Needs to Change
Participants also shared clear, actionable recommendations:
- Simplify access to services
- Increase neurodivergent-informed training
- Create sensory-friendly environments
- Expand individualized, person-centered approaches
- Elevate lived experience voices
This meeting reinforced a critical truth: Systems cannot be effective if they are not designed for the people they serve.
By centering lived experience—especially from neurodivergent young people—the Bridge Coalition continues to push toward a system that is:
- More accessible
- More responsive
- More human-centered
Community Updates:
- No updates
Closing Comments:
- A reminder that the next meeting on May 26th will feature Ryan Kent Executive Director of Spokane Treatment & Recovery (STARS)
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