Our independent living program is designed to provide you with more customized support to begin and sustain the transition to independent living. When you select our independent living program, you’ll be connected with your own On My Own support coordinator who is there to help build an individualized service plan, support you in reaching your goals, and provide peace of mind to both you and your family that someone is there when you need help.
You do not have to be living independently to use these services. Some members choose to connect with a support coordinator to accelerate their learning and transition to an apartment. Other members begin working with a support coordinator once they’ve moved into an apartment. The choice is yours.
You’ll meet with your support coordinator on average once per week for one hour, and also have the option of adding an average of two hours of direct care each week to your membership. Our direct care is available to help fill critical transportation needs and practice independent living skills.
As a member of our independent living program, you are entitled to a plan that is person-centered, created on an annual basis and is based on your strengths and abilities. At your annual planning meeting, goals will be created that are measurable and meaningful to you including but not limited to: food, clothing, shelter, employment, education, legal services, transportation, and social.
We follow a self-determination model which means that this is your plan, these are your goals, and you can make changes at any time. You have the right to choose who you want to be included or excluded in your planning process. We are not here to set goals for you but to support you in reaching your goals. We also follow a strength-based practice, and focus on the strengths and skills that you have when creating your plan in order to help you reach your goals.
As a member of our independent living program, you’ll also have access to a 24/7 emergency phone line. This phone is carried by trained On My Own staff and is used to help you through non-life threatening situations that may be unfamiliar or anxiety-producing.
Members of our independent living program will also be assessed every six months to determine areas of strength and areas needing improvement. These assessments, the same as those given in our skill-building program, will help us better plan our work with you. View our Independent Living Program membership options and costs here.