Dozens of skills--big and small--are needed to successfully live independently, work a job and build a community of friends.
And while all of our services help build the critical skills needed for a happy, productive life, Independence Prep Weekends, Independence Prep Summer and Independence Prep Residency are great introductory courses to get you started.
When Daniel first joined our program, he was 17 and just finishing high school.
His parents were proud of how far he’d come, but they were also worried.
He wanted to live on his own someday and get a job, but they didn’t know where to start. He struggled with routines, had trouble staying focused, and had never even been to a job interview. His mom told us, 'We just want him to have a shot at a real life—something that’s his.'
We started small. Daniel joined us for a few weekends away to get used to being on his own and learned how to cook simple meals, manage a budget, and stick to a schedule. At first, he needed reminders and lots of support—but over time, he started setting his own alarms, writing accurate grocery lists, and even helping others in the group.
Then came the job training. We helped Daniel fill out job applications, role-play interviews, and learn how to handle real-world challenges like asking for help or managing stress. When he got a job at his local grocery store—stocking shelves three days a week—his parents were over the moon. But the best part? He came home after his first shift beaming with pride.
Today, Daniel lives in an apartment with a friend. He cooks dinner every night, takes the bus to work, and even started saving for a trip to visit family out of state. His parents say they sleep better at night—not because everything is perfect, but because they know Daniel has the tools, the support, and the confidence to build a life of his own.
(Identifying details have been changed to preserve member privacy.)
Independence Prep Weekends are offered to teens and young adults three times each year, and are designed to help students 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 + organizing)
- health + wellness (self-care and coping strategies; meal planning + 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)
As students often join Independence Prep Weekends for a year or two before moving on to independent living, slight modifications are made to each session's schedule to ensure students are learning and reinforcing new skills each time they join us.
Our next sessions of Independence Prep Weekends are:
- September 26 - 28, 2025
- January 9 - 11, 2026
- April 10 - 12, 2026
Independence Prep Weekends cost $550 for a single room and $500 for a double room (as available.) This includes a two-night local hotel stay, all meals, activity materials, expert-designed curriculum and lessons, and support from staff throughout the weekend.
Independence Prep Summer is an extended version of our Independence Prep Weekends, offering a 3-week day camp and 2-night overnight capstone weekend to build independent living, vocational and social skills.
Independence Prep Summer day camp sessions run 9 am - 3 pm Monday through Friday.
2026 Independence Prep Summer dates and pricing will be released in late 2025.
Prices include three weeks of day camp, a two-night local hotel stay, meals (lunch at day camp and all meals for the overnight experience), weekly field trips into the community, activity and learning materials, expert-designed curriculum and lessons, and 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 3-week summer day camp Monday through Friday, live in our apartments with a roommate and the support of our staff Monday through Thursday, and go home on weekends.
2026 Independence Prep Residency dates and pricing will be released in late 2025.
Prices include everything provided through Independence Prep Summer as well as three weeks (Monday through Thursday) of housing in our apartments, meals, evening support from staff, and 24/7 emergency support.
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.