Support Services

Independent Living Skills Classes

Clients have many opportunities to learn, practice, and refine their daily living skills. In addition to classes and packets, both residential and proctor homes provide clients with hands on training in housekeeping, money and time management, transportation, community living, food prep, health and safety, and social skills.

Once a client completes Orientation status, they begin attending an Employability class series and an Independent Living class series. Each class has weekly assignments that supplement the lessons in class and provide the chance for the client to apply skills learned in class. Clients complete this component of the program when they have attended all of the classes and completed the corresponding assignments.

Employability Classes Include:

Independent Living Classes Include:

Clients have many opportunities to learn, practice, and refine their daily living skills. In addition to classes and assignments, both residential and proctor homes provide clients with hands on training in housekeeping, money and time management, transportation, community living, food preparation, health and safety, and social skills.

Employment

Once a client completes the YPA orientation process, they begin the job searching process. While we require clients to obtain employment thought independent job searching, it is a staff supported, structured, and accountable process. Clients attend a weekly Job Club class where the Employment Coordinator review client's job searching progress for the week, review employment skills and give job leads for the week. There is an agency Job Coach who takes clients out weekly to job search. Once a client is hired, the Employment Coordinator establishes a relationship with the employer and every month YPA Work Reports are completed; these reports help guide the clients Action Plans and Treatment plans.

Workateer Program

Some clients enter the program with employment skills and work history, quickly find employment through traditional job searching routes. Clients too young to work, have no job experience, or require extra support prior to obtaining a job participate in the Workateer Program. The Workateer Program is designed to increase the confidence and employability of clients who might not be able to find employment through more traditional routes.

During the Workateer process clients search for and obtain a volunteer position. Clients use this position to gain transferable skills and to build a resume. Clients receive work reports (from the volunteer site supervisor) and feedback throughout their volunteer experience. Workateering allows clients to gain responsibility by adhering to their work schedule and building job skills. The Workateer Project will allow these clients to earn a stipend from YPA that reflects the current state minimum wage. They will be able to learn money management by tracking their earnings, budgeting a percentage of their earnings for needs and wants, saving money to fulfill obligations to the state, and preparing for the transition process. They will also receive the psychological benefit of seeing the rewards of their hard work. Once a client has demonstrated consistent progress and a readiness to gain employment (1-3 months, depending on the client), the client, with the support of the Workateer Coordinator, will begin searching for a paying job. The Workateer Program addresses a youth’s individualized needs while meeting the following objectives:

The Workateer Program has been a fundamental component of treatment for lower functioning youth since 2001. Approximately 16 youth benefit from the Workateer Program every year. We plan on supporting this project long term.

Vocation

Clients meet with the Vocation Coordinator to begin developing a vocational plan by completing a Vocational Interest Assessment. Progress and updates to this career plan are included within the 30-day Action Plan and discussed in a monthly meeting. After three paths have been researched and discussed, the client chooses one career path and, with the continued assistance from the Vocational Coordinator, begins to take the steps toward that path. The Vocational Coordinator plans college and training sites tours. The clients are required to investigate continuing education options such as community college, 4-year colleges, internships and apprenticeships or specific vocational training programs.

Recreation

The Recreation Program focuses on developing community resources, support and creating a sense of positive personal culture that will help ease the transition from residential life to independent living.

Goal

To facilitate the development of community resources, strong social network and support and create a wide variety of pro-social free time activities that will fill the slate that has been wiped clean due to incarceration and negative lifestyles.

Current activities include: