MIDDLETOWN, CT – Connecticut has made significant strides in combating the epidemic of disconnected youth across the state, but there is still more work to do.
That was the message from state officials who gathered at Beman Middle School in Middletown to share success stories from some of the programs targeted at helping young people get back into school and to find meaningful work.
Dalio Education’s initial report, Connecticut’s Unspoken Crisis, found in 2023 that there were 119,000 youth aged 14-26 who were at risk of disconnection from either school or the workforce. That report led to the creation of the 119K Commission, which studied the issue and eventually produced a report of solutions titled Young People First, also funded by Dalio Education.
Since the report came out, state agencies and school districts have worked together to confront the crisis head-on. Through the efforts of several programs, that initial figure of 119,000 dropped to 106,000 in 2024, Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz said.
One of the programs that has made a difference is the Young Adult Services (YAS) program, according to Nancy Navarretta, commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS). The program was established to facilitate the successful transition of young adults from the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and the juvenile justice system to the adult mental health system.
“The current population served by YAS includes the most acute, high-risk young adults in the state between the ages of 18 and 25,” she said. “The YAS service array consists of 18 community-based, age-specific programs at both state-operated and private nonprofit agencies across the state. These programs provide intensive, wraparound interventions addressing mental health and substance misuse with additional employment, life skills development, and housing supports.”
During a news conference in Middletown on Monday, March 31, 2025, Emily Koehler-Zieman says that before she joined the Young Adult Services program, finding help was “nearly impossible.” Middletown Mayor Ben Florsheim listens in the background. Credit: Jamil Ragland / CTNewsJunkie
Two of the speakers at Beman Middle School shared their personal stories of success due to the YAS program. Emily Koehler-Zieman said that before joining the YAS program a few years ago, it felt nearly impossible to find treatment for her condition.
“It was difficult to find the right place for me and where I could actually grow. Since being in the program, I have made tremendous strides that I didn’t think I would be able to do. I was able to finally finish high school and get into college. I’m working on my bachelor’s in psychology right now, while working at Middlesex Emergency Room. So I’m able to help other people going through crises and that’s honestly something like a dream come true for me.
“I think that this kind of treatment should be available for all, everybody across the state. It truly has changed my life and I know other people as well. So I just – my hope is that – this type of treatment continues to move forward and grow as we work together and work on getting everybody the help they deserve,” Koehler-Zieman stated.
Alex Perfetto shared that he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at the age of 10 and ended up in DCF custody at 15. He explained how his experience is typical of people like him who face adversity, and how it leads to disconnection.
“Imagine having to constantly start over with a new therapist, psychiatrist, and build that rapport in hopes of being heard,” he said. “Imagine hoping that by sharing my difficult times, that people would operate not from a place of fear, but from compassion and understanding. That’s one of the first points of disengagement and most people don’t even know it. Once anger and resentment builds, their anxiety heightens, depression becomes overwhelming, and people become hesitant to reach out to those [people] due to a lack of trust and trauma, and the unknown manifests fear.”
Perfetto joined YAS when he turned 18. He credits his mother, stepfather, and therapist for helping to save his life. Today he works in DMHAS outpatient services, helping young people who faced the same challenges he did.
“This speech today is not just for me,” he said. “This is for young adults, adolescents transitioning out of DCF, and the future generation who may not have a voice yet. I’m not going to give up fighting for services that made a big impact in my life when they are not giving up fighting for me.”
The Learner Engagement and Attendance Program (LEAP) is another program that has made a difference in reconnecting young people. LEAP began in 2021 as a way to address student absenteeism and disengagement from school due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Students who are at risk of becoming disengaged or are already chronically absent or disengaged from school are identified for assistance. The program is designed to build trusting relationships between families and schools through home visits from any willing school staff member with a supportive mindset, including administrators, teachers, student support staff, family liaison officers, and community partners.
The initial LEAP cohort included 15 schools and the program has since expanded to 25 districts. According to Lt. Gov. Bysiewicz, LEAP has helped more than 30,000 students across the state, increasing overall school attendance by 15%. She noted that 23 of the 25 LEAP districts saw an overall 23.7% decrease in absenteeism during their first year in the program and a 17.7% drop in the second.
“LEAP helps identify barriers,” she said. “It could be access to transportation, it could be food security, mental health support, or even that a parent has no child care for a younger sibling. We know that disconnected youth face many challenges, from unstable housing to lack of job opportunities as well. So when we’re investing in LEAP, we’re literally investing in the success of our young people and their futures. If we all work together, we can lift up young people that are experiencing challenges and difficulties and make sure that all of them succeed.”
Kari Sullivan-Custer, attendance lead for the State Department of Education, explained that in addition to the 25 school districts that directly receive LEAP funding, there are dozens more that have received training through the program to help improve school attendance.
“When the program began, it featured a two-hour virtual training that we invited any district to,” she said. “Before the pandemic, there was no consistent training. Now school districts have access to free research-based training with proven results.”
The LEAP 101 trainings are virtual sessions that are designed to teach staff who are new to the LEAP home-visit approach. They use role-playing and discussion to prepare home visitors for their initial contacts with families and their first visit.
More than 3,000 people have been trained since the program began and they have conducted over 71,000 home visits. Developed in Connecticut, LEAP has been recognized nationally for its effectiveness in helping students return to school.
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