In collaboration with Kennedy Adams and Jerrod Poindexter
Reflect: Youth Caregiver Plan is a mental health resource guide for adolescents ages
13-17. Growing up is difficult — especially if you are responsible for another person’s well-being. This resource will give caregivers access to protected chat rooms, resources and interactive therapy-based gaming.
REFLECT: YOUTH Caregiver Plan
Connecting Youth to Resources
Problem
Around the U.S., there are an estimated 1.4 million youth caregivers. They often experience shame, guilt and isolation in response to their adult-like responsibilities. Many times, youth caregivers do not have the tools to advocate for their mental health needs.
Solution
Reflect is an app that aids youth caregivers to find informal support through chat, resources, and gaming. The features in this app will empower caregivers to advocate for their mental health needs.
App Functions, second from left
Chat: Youth caregivers can connect with volunteer mental health providers who assist in developing individual care plans. The chat function facilitates this connection.
Avatar Creator: The Avatar Creator enables youth caregivers to design characters that guide them through the app and therapy-based games.
Video Chat: The video chat function uses AI to translate text into an animated character, helping caregivers associate their care plans with their avatars.
Local Resources: This feature uses the caregiver’s location to identify nearby mental health resources, including therapists, support groups and state-run programs.
Avatar Creator
The Avatar Creator connects youth caregivers to Reflect. These customizable avatars will help caregivers develop complex links to their care plan.
Therapy-Based Gaming
Therapy-based gaming integrates youth caregivers' avatars into familiar games like Nintendo's Animal Crossing. By connecting these characters with well-known games, caregivers can engage with topics such as identifying emotions, using coping skills and solving problems.