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
Without intentions, it is very difficult to set goals, therefore we believe it is imperative to clearly state our intentions. An intention may be as simple as time management, however, it is the foundation which paves the way for other goals to materialize. Some participants may need help realizing their intentions, while others are over-ambitious and need help focusing on putting each step in place to achieve their objectives. The intentions phase is designed to provide participants with the opportunity to identify the goals and aspirations they would like to attain while in the program. Participants identify how they can begin working towards these goals and the structure that needs to be integrated into their lives to support this. Length of time is a minimum of two months.
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
Orientation is the first step a participant moves through in the Intentions Phase. It is designed to give participants the opportunity to “arrive” and settle into the program. In addition, during this time participants begin to establish relationships with their lead mentor, therapist, and peers. Length of time is a minimum of two weeks. Orientation includes a graduated curfew, limited cell phone/computer use, introduction to AIM Plan, groups, meetings and other participants.
2. ACTIONS PHASE
The Actions Phase provides the opportunity to put into action the goals and objectives they have developed in the Intentions Phase. This may not be as easy as it sounds, especially when one has a history of sabotaging personal success with destructive behaviors. During this period, we come face to face with what is getting in the way of actualizing goals. Participants are facing challenges in the real world head-on for the first time since they left primary treatment. This phase is designed to allow participants to experience success in maintaining their individual schedules. Consistency in attending individual as well as group therapy sessions is emphasized. Participants are expected to engage in the maintenance and progress toward therapeutic goals. Length of time is an average of two months.
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
The Merge Phase is designed to provide participants with the opportunity to practice and integrate what they have learned thus far in the program. Participants have overcome hurdles that normally present themselves during the other phases and are living a life that shows congruency between intentions and actions. They are self-driven, maintain their own schedules, currently working or going to school and have established themselves as leaders in the AIM House community. They are given more freedom and independence to begin exploring and maintaining their own boundaries. Participants are supported in becoming more responsible for maintaining the structure and healthy lifestyle they have created for themselves at AIM House. Participants learn how to identify positive and negative risks in their lives as part of maintaining effective change. The minimum length of time in this phase is one month.
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
Evolve Phase marks the point at which participants have successfully completed the program and are moving on in their lives. Participants can still utilize the support system at AIM House on an as-needed basis to help face life’s challenges.
- 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
