Dozens of skills--big and small--are needed to successfully live independently and build a community of friends.
All of our programs help build the critical skills needed for a happy, productive life, but Independence Prep is a great place to get started.
Independence Prep offers 8-week classes throughout the academic year, designed to help teens and young adults build a foundation of independent living skills, a shared goal and vision for one day living independently, and the confidence and excitement needed to pursue their vision.
Independence Prep sessions focus on building independent living skills in a safe, supported and fun environment. Skill-building experiences include:
- personal management (getting up and ready independently, managing a schedule)
- home management (cleaning and organizing)
- health and wellness (self-care and coping strategies; meal planning and preparation)
- healthy relationships (teamwork; making friends)
- transportation (getting around the community)
- employment (communicating your needs and engaging with others; group etiquette)
- money management (the costs of living on your own, creating and sticking to a budget)
- safety (staying safe in new environments)
Every 8-week session focuses on two domains of independent living and includes two 3-hour classes each week and a 2-night weekend independent living experience in week 6 to practice skills learned in a real-world setting.
Our next sessions of Independence Prep are:
- April 10 to 12, 2026 (2-night weekend independent living experience only)
- September 7 to October 30, 2026 (money management + employment)
- November 2 - December 23, 2026 (transportation + safety)
- January 11 - March 5, 2027 (home management + wellness)
- March 23 - May 15, 2027 (personal management + healthy relationships)
Our 8-week Independence Prep sessions cost $2,500 per session and include:
- two 3-hour classes each week
- two nights in a local hotel during our weekend experience
- all meals during the weekend experience
- learning and activity materials
- expert-designed curriculum
- support from staff
The 2-night weekend independent living experience in April 2026 costs $500 for a double room/$550 for a single room and includes all but the two 3-hour classes listed above.
Independence Prep Summer is a condensed version of our 8-week courses, offering a 4-week day camp each July to build independent living, vocational and social skills.
Our 2026 Independence Prep Summer session runs from Monday, July 6th through Thursday, July 30th, meeting 9 am - 3 pm each day.
Independence Prep Summer 2026 costs $2,000 and includes:
- four weeks of day camp
- daily lunch
- weekly field trips into the community
- learning and activity materials
- expert-designed curriculum
- support from staff
Independence Prep Residency is an immersive independent living experience for select students in our Independence Prep Summer camp who are ready to try on supported independent living.
Residency students attend our 4-week summer day camp Monday through Thursday and live in our apartments with a roommate and the support of our staff Monday through Wednesday.
Independence Prep Residency 2026 costs $3,000 and includes 4 weeks of Independence Prep Summer and:
- four weeks of housing (Monday through Wednesday)
- daily meals on residency days
- evening support until 7:30 pm Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays
- access to our 24/7 emergency phone line on residency days
If you're interested in building skills, begin the application process here.
Please contact Emily Lourim, Director of Education, at emily@onmyownofmi.org or (248) 649-3739 x 221.