Residential Treatment

Like most teens, 17-year-old Gina keeps a busy schedule— balancing school, two jobs as a waitress and caregiver, friends and preparing for her future.

There's just one slight difference. Gina does it all from LSI's Bremwood Residential Treatment campus, through a new supervised apartment living program.

Supervised apartment living is a transitional service available to youth aging out of care without a permanency plan. There are now six teens in LSI's program; each lives independently in his or her own apartment while LSI staff is available to provide support and teach independent living skills.

"Our goal is to help teens establish a greater ability to be self-sufficient," said Laura Wulff, LSI caseworker. "They learn to make responsible and healthy choices and develop a positive support system, so they can make a more successful transition into adulthood."

Gina arrived at Bremwood at age 15 and completed several treatment programs in Bremwood's continuum of care.

But her home situation wasn't a good place to return to, she explained. That's when she transitioned into Exodus, an LSI program that begins to teach teens independent living and community skills. Eventually she moved into the new supervised apartment living program.

"I like the fact that you get more freedom," Gina said. "You're not treated as a kid. We still have curfews and rules and boundaries, but they aren't hard or difficult to follow."

Teens have to be at least 16 and a half years old to enter the program. Even in supervised apartment living they may still have individual and group sessions. Some use LSI's remedial services, which can teach skills such as problem-solving or building healthy relationships. But services are no longer as structured or intense as in the traditional residential setting.

"They're responsible for keeping their appointments," explained Laura. "Through those responsibilities, they keep privileges like a later curfew or cell phone."

"Most of the kids say it's a lot of work and responsibility," she added. "It's a big commitment, but they know they need to be there."

For teens who have spent a significant part of their lives in residential or group care, there's also a chance to use free time in a normal childhood way, by going to friends' homes or high school football games.

"In residential, all their time was focused on working to address behaviors and stabilize mental health issues," said Laura. "Now they get to live life a little, which comes with its life lessons, but they are getting more responsible and grown-up every day."

Life skills lessons are a big part of the program. Teens learn how to do laundry and stick to a budget. Speakers, such as a landlord or nurse, visit to talk about housing skills or healthy child development. Future speakers may include an insurance company, a lawyer, or even a trip to a car dealership to learn how to purchase a vehicle.

"We assist them in becoming an adult and preparing them so they're capable of standing on their two feet, with a couple of supports around them," said Laura Wulff, LSI caseworker. "There is definitely a need for this type of program across the state as more youth are aging out of care without the assistance they need. This is the next piece we needed to provide a full continuum of care and the practice kids need to be successful as adults."

All this practice is already paying off for teens like Gina.

"Being at Bremwood helped me see the reality that you can't live like this forever," she said. "It helped me step up and progress on."