Daily Life

Young adults who are successful at AIM House respond to consistent, predictable structure, have a desire to change, and form strong interpersonal relationships. AIM House is structured in a way that allows participants to progress through five distinct phases while they are successfully meeting their goals and transitioning into adulthood.
The five phases were named after reviewing the success of our alumni long after they graduated. The initials of each phase placed together spell I AM ME. The I AM ME process is an ongoing progression of life beyond their time at AIM House. We are delighted to watch our participants work through the program and we are proud to be a part of their transition. Learn more about the process phases: Intentions, Actions, Merge, Manifest, Evolve.
“From day one I felt like I belonged here; my mentor, therapists and fellow participants cared about me every step of the way.”
AIM House Participant
1. INTENTIONS PHASE
DEFINING ELEMENTS
- Further integration in program and active participation
- Build relationships and rapport with staff and peers
- Creation of AIM Plan and Wellness Plan
- Initial schedule set-up
- Volunteer work
- Ongoing individual and group therapy
- One-on-one mentor meetings
- Academic support
- Job search and vocational support
- Introduction to creative accelerator program
- House obligations such as chores, groups and activities
- Outside appointments, such as psychiatrist, sponsor, etc.
- Recovery / Wellness support
MEASURABLE OBJECTIVES
- Consistently follow through with weekly schedule
- Complete 20 hours of community service
- Adhere to program requirements
- Ability to clearly articulate coping skills
- Demonstrate ability to utilize coping skills
- Demonstrate open communication with therapist and lead mentor
- Successfully meet Intentions AIM Plan goals
- Develop and implement a Wellness Plan
2. ACTIONS PHASE
DEFINING ELEMENTS
- Established consistency with schedule continues
- Therapy – focus on underlying issues and family dynamics
- One-on-one mentor meetings
- Therapeutic growth
- Maturation of goals and objectives
MEASURABLE OBJECTIVES
- Co-create and follow through with a 30-40 hr. per week schedule of commitments
- Complete Actions AIM Plan goals
- Consistent follow through with an informed Wellness Plan
- Maintain abstinence
- Participate in individual and group therapy
- Consistently keep room clean and follow through with household responsibilities
"There were times at AIM House where I wanted to leave and go my own way, convinced that I could make it on my own. There were times when I thought I had learned all I could here and that any more of the groups and the rules and the requirements were just a waste of money or time. However, each time I had those thoughts something would remind me of just how important AIM House was to me."
AIM House Participant
3. MERGE PHASE
DEFINING ELEMENTS
- Consistent and self-driven schedule and routine
- Develop relationships, social networks, and supportive connections within and outside of the AIM House community
- Maintain 30-40 hours per week of out-of-house commitments, including a job, an internship, or an academic course load
- One-on-one mentor meetings
- Plan for transition from AIM House into the Community
MEASURABLE OBJECTIVES
- Ability to consistently follow through program requirements
- Completion of Merge AIM Plan goals
- Design and implementation of Wellness Plan that is reflective of their lives outside of the AIM House
- Demonstrate ability to utilize healthy coping skills in new and challenging situations
- Develop a capacity to articulate patterns within self and family
- Identify and utilize outside sources of support
“From day one I felt like I belonged here; my mentor, therapists and fellow participants cared about me every step of the way.”
AIM House Participant
4. MANIFEST PHASE
Having integrated the skills, lessons, and practical applications of the previous phases, participants in the Manifest Phase transition into independent living in the outside community. Participants spend time building a stronger support network outside of AIM House as they gradually move into greater degrees of independence and responsibility. Overall, the Manifest Phase is marked by the fruition of a participant’s hard work in the prior phases and is a highly individualized portion of our program while under the support of an AIM House mentor, therapist, and participant community. Although the length of time is individualized, Manifest Phase can be customized based on individual and familial needs.
DEFINING ELEMENTS
- Transition to living in the community
- One-on-one mentor meetings
- Individual therapy
- Life skills support
- Family updates
- Academic and Vocational support (groups and individualized)
- Continued access to groups and activities
- Highly individualized
MEASURABLE OBJECTIVES
- Establish a healthy support system outside of AIM House
- Ability to advocate for therapeutic and individual needs
- Mastery of independent living skills (maintain employment, academics, budgeting, and self-care)
- Identify passions and interests and be able to develop action plans to pursue such interests
- Completion of Manifest AIM Plan goals
- Academic and Vocational support (groups and individualized)
"The only elements necessary to succeed in our program is the willingness to change"
AIM House
5. EVOLVE PHASE
- Create and implement individualized aftercare plans
- Phone calls and one-on-one meetings with staff as needed
PERSONALIZED POTENTIAL:
• ACADEMICS
• VOCATIONAL TRAINING
• CREATIVE ACCELERATORS
• VOLUNTEERING