A better understanding of the transition from child to adult community mental health services is important given the high rates of service drop-out. Conducting longitudinal research is challenging during a major service provider change. Developmentally-typical transition-to-adulthood instability can deter study engagement. This study examines the efficacy of creative technology-based strategies to recruit and engage adolescents and young adults (AYA) with serious mental health diagnoses in a qualitative study during their transition from child to adult services. Participants were recruited from one agency to complete three in-depth qualitative interviews and monthly surveys exploring mental health service experiences over 12-months. Participants received a smartphone and data plan for 6-months at initial interview, $50 at 6-month interview and $55 at 12-month interview. Four research assistants used a shared Google Voice account to text monthly online surveys and to communicate with participants. 19 participants enrolled; 74% remained enrolled across the 12-months. Smartphones and data plans were not effective in recruiting nor sustaining study engagement for most participants. Participants preferred a mix of texting and phone calls to prompt study engagement; 60% of online surveys were completed. Unanticipated participant-researcher communication outside of research scope suggests that the formation of strong relationships and additional support during this transitional time is critical for sustained study engagement. Study findings have practical implications for social work longitudinal research design and effective study implementation. Future social work research is warranted on innovative strategies to boost study and service engagement among AYA with serious co-occurring mental health and developmental instability.

鉴于服务流失率很高，更好地了解从儿童到成人社区心理健康服务的过渡非常重要。在主要服务提供商发生变化期间进行纵向研究具有挑战性。发育上典型的向成年期过渡的不稳定可能会阻碍学习参与。本研究探讨了基于创新技术的策略的有效性，该策略在定性研究中招募和吸引患有严重心理健康诊断的青少年和年轻人（AYA），以帮助他们从儿童服务过渡到成人服务。从一家机构招募参与者，完成三项深入的定性访谈和每月调查，探索 12 个月内的心理健康服务体验。参与者在初次面试时收到智能手机和 6 个月的数据套餐，6 个月面试时收到 50 美元，12 个月面试时收到 55 美元。四名研究助理使用共享的谷歌语音帐户每月发送在线调查文本并与参与者进行交流。19名参赛者报名；74% 的人在 12 个月内仍然注册。智能手机和数据计划无法有效地招募或维持大多数参与者的研究参与度。参与者更喜欢短信和电话相结合的方式来促进研究参与度；60%的在线调查已完成。研究范围之外的意外参与者与研究人员的沟通表明，在此过渡时期形成牢固的关系和额外的支持对于持续的研究参与至关重要。研究结果对社会工作纵向研究设计和有效研究实施具有实际意义。未来的社会工作研究需要创新策略，以提高患有严重并发心理健康和发育不稳定的 AYA 的学习和服务参与度。