6/1/11 Community Access Unlimited ~ Elizabeth, NJ

Wed. June 1        Community Access Unlimited ~ TALK ~ Elizabeth, NJ

6:00pm-7:00 pm ET       
Notes:
About the Center:

• Clients: males and females who need preparation for independent living
• Community Access offers four levels of independent living called the Transitional Opportunities Program (TOP).
• TOP has a 24-hour supervised, residential program designed to prepare adolescents for independent living.
• TOP provides individual and group counseling, daily living skill training (budgeting, food shopping, laundry, cooking), case management, advocacy, and outreach.
• The program also includes training in NJ’s employment-oriented Life Skills Curriculum, independent housing assistance, and personal awareness education (communication, problem solving, decision making, community resources, drug and alcohol awareness).
• There are four levels of residential living provided by Community Access.
• The first step in housing is a group home with 24-hour supervision, whose staff provides one-to-one support and daily living skills training.
• The next step is a Supervised Transitional Living Home (STLH) for youth, who have graduated from the group home.
• Then, youth aged 16 or older who have graduated from the STLH, live in a semi-independent residential, where they prepare for independence. Residents are provided with minimal guidance from nearby residential counselors (advanced daily living skills training, less structure).
• The final step is the Follow Along program, whereby youth who have graduated from semi-independent living may live in a Community Access apartment for six months. During the six months, residents live and work independently, build savings accounts, and receive one-on-one counseling assistance. After the six months, a resident can remain in the CAU housing and provide funds toward its maintenance or use the savings to acquire another apartment. The programs are located throughout Union County, NJ.