Independent Living Program

Most adolescents are taught basic independent living skills in the home by parents or other substitute caregivers. However, once a child is placed in Child Care services, they often leave without knowing the basic living skills to make it on their own.

The Independent Living program is designed to teach and educate our kids in the basic skills so they can live independently once they leave our care. This program includes: preparation for adult living; individual and group counseling; life skills training; casework; health care; crisis intervention; employment counseling; academic counseling; and community networking.

Transitional Phase

Daily workshops teach the initial and more intense independent living and pro-social skills. Residents are provided with individual and group clinical sessions.

In this phase residents share a house with other residents. Each resident pays rent and is preparing to advance to the next phase. Twenty-four hour supervision is provided.

Through daily workshops, residents are provided with the vocational skills necessary for seeking and maintaining employment, budgeting, meal planning, accessing public transportation and increasing knowledge of community resources.

In addition, tours of agencies, guest speakers and in-services are also used to teach skills and learn how to access community resources.

Independent Living Phase

Residents are expected to practice skills learned in the houses. Residents continue to attend daily workshops and maintain employment. They sign an apartment lease and begin actual bill payments. They continue to receive weekly individual and group counseling to process clinical issues and the transition to apartment living.

Networking with community resources continues connecting the resident to needed services. They are expected to function in a self-reliant fashion, mirroring the goal of self-sufficiency. Daily checks, in the apartment, are done throughout the day.

They receive feedback on their hygiene, apartment upkeep, meal planning, and recreational planning.