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The Program
We locate possible opportunities through our college mentors to join college groups, teams, and clubs. YWU coordinates recruitment into the group; act as the liaison between the family, school, and college/university; train mentors of the college groups to welcome participants into their groups as they are, facilitate communication between all parties; facilitate group education and development of Positive Experience Design; gather data on impact and quality of life; create and coordinate social connections across campus for participants and families; facilitate possible job/career opportunities through college career resources; offer support services as needed through our licensed clinicians, and generally problem-solve to make these opportunities sustainable for the rest of our peer’s lives.
“Most recently, through Pete’s (Nick’s mentor) enthusiasm and advocacy, Nick has been able to audit the Perspective on a Coaching course at SSU! Of course, Nick is thrilled to be in a typical college class, learning about a topic he is passionate about with some of his peers from the baseball team! Pete’s instinct that Coach Passinari would be a good instructional match for Nick was spot on. Not only is Nick learning new things about coaching, he is a truly motivated learner with this motivation spilling over into other areas.”
What will the days be comprised of/skills being worked on?
Our program is customized on an Individual-by-individual basis. Once we meet the individual and their family and learn more about their goals for their adult life and what they're hoping their life will look like, we will determine the support and skill development needed to reach those goals. All individuals who are receiving CBDS support from YWU are also connected to peer mentors through YWU to help facilitate opportunities for skill development and social inclusion in a college community. We match and support peer connections based on the individual’s interests and hobbies.
Our Core Values and Goals are:
Develop Independent Living Skills
Engage in activities you are interested in
Navigate your community using these acquired independent living skills
See if the DEN is the right program for you!
Benefits
It has been said a person's quality of life is directly linked to the quality of the relationships in their life. You’re With Us! provides young adults with the unique opportunity to belong to a group--just like any person would or could--- and derive the typical benefits people receive from activities. In addition, our participants have the unique ability to profoundly affect those around them. By being included in their groups, our participants open up college students---and college campuses---to compassion and empathy, and provide them with leadership opportunities that would otherwise not be available. In essence, our framework enables our participants and peer mentors to “practice together” in their community, which is the setting where they will be expected to function and thrive for the balance of their lives.