St. Agnes Home: Program Services: Transitional Living

Transitional Living

A goal of Saint Agnes Family Center is to assist all teen mothers to develop the skills necessary for independent living and to facilitate their transition toward independent parenting. All residents complete the Daniel Memorial and ongoing assessments of successful skill demonstration of identified parenting skills. Residents must demonstrate ability to reach at least the Intermediate Stage of independent skills ability by the time of the 4-month treatment meeting. Residents whose discharge plan includes independent living and have demonstrated significant success with Life Skills may be eligible for the Step Down Transitional Living Apartment Program (TLAP). They may be eligible for residence in the supervised apartment setting adjacent to the Family Center. Successful TLAP experience qualifies the teen mom for Community Housing Assistant Program (CHAP) case management services.

Criteria for Acceptance into STEP DOWN/TLAP

The STEP DOWN/TLAP client must be 16-20 years of age to be accepted into the program and have independent living as a TLAP discharge plan. A SAFC resident must maintain at a minimum Junior level scores and ideally Senior level scores in all areas over a consistent 6-week period of time. Community based referrals must have completed a life skills training program and must demonstrate an increased score on the Casey Ansell Living Skills Assessment. Community based referrals are limited to teen mothers with no more than 2 children under 5 years of age.

The client must be willing to contract for STEP DOWN/TLAP services, making a written application for the program, and, if a SAFC resident, be recommended by their Primary Caregiver and Directors. Outside referrals must have their DCF social worker's letter of recommendation, as well as the recommendation of the program staff if they are already residing in a group home. SAFC residents will have from six months to a minimum of one month of more intensive life skills instructions with the Life Skills Case Manager after they are identified as a prospective STEP DOWN/TLAP client.

The client must consistently attend school and comply with all SAFC program expectations, including health and parenting guidelines and those of the counseling program.

Clients approved by SAFC to have a part-time job must be willing to set up a savings plan and save a percentage of their paycheck while participating in the STEP DOWN/TLAP program. Outside referrals must demonstrate the ability to work at a part-time job in compliance with DCF guidelines.
Clients must demonstrate an ability to keep their baby healthy and safe as received by required hospital/medical provider and former placement source information and a consistent ability to balance the baby's needs with her own.