Young Adults Transitions

Dragonfly TRANSITIONS is home-away-from-home for young adults who are struggling with the transition to healthy, productive independence. Our dedicated faculty support residents in their quest for independent living skills, personal growth and emotional maturation. TRANSITIONS partici-pants learn balance and efficient time management experientially as they juggle schedules filled with individual and group therapy sessions, recovery meetings, academic and/or vocational studies, complimented by a wide variety of outdoor and indoor sports and recreation options.

The program is structured into three progressive phases based on the Stages of Change model. Participants move through the program at their own individual pace, exploring their own unique challenges and issues at every phase. Students collaborate with their mentors and counselors to set and achieve an individualized set of goals. Though no two residents’ progression (or issues) are alike, the following “themes” are the focus at each phase:

Phase I: Acceptance — orients participants to the program, giving participants and staff time to get to know one another. Working with Dragonfly staff, participants examine behaviors and concerns that have brought them to Transitions and develop an individualized treatment plan that addresses their unique goals and issues. For new participants that are re-integrating into the “real” world from a wilderness program, Phase I helps translate the lessons learned in the wilderness into everyday life within a structured and supportive environment. Staff and participants work together to create a healthy structure that meets the student’s needs implemented through a schedule incorporating exercise, nutrition, service/apprenticeship, and emotional growth.

Phase II: Consistency and Effort — participants take on increased responsibility for making changes and demonstrate consistency and readiness to try new things. In this phase, participants attend school, find employment, or complete apprenticeships while continuing the emotional growth work started in Phase I. Participants are encouraged to explore new activities and experiment with new behaviors and lifestyles. Along with other critical life skills, participants focus on learning budgeting and personal finance in preparation for Phase III.

Phase III: Independence and Future Planning — participants have demonstrated that they are reliable, trustworthy and able to be consistent in their everyday efforts and over a period of time. Phase III participants open checking accounts at local banking establishments and take on increased responsibilities for their everyday living expenses. At this stage, participants are expected to also take on increased leadership within their peer group and use the tools and skills learned throughout Phase I & II. Students look to the future and develop a concrete exit strategy to help in the transition into the next phase of their life.

We strongly encourage students to complete all phases of the program as the impact of that alone on the graduate’s self-perception counters the many years they did not follow through on commitments. In addition, each phase focuses on core challenges and “developmental milestones” experienced by most young adults. Though many young people that arrive at Transitions have “quit” on themselves and their commitments in the past (especially when hard work, focus, and emotional conflict were present), most find the discipline and drive to slow down and experience all that comes with the three Transitions phases.