Dominion Youth Services’ Milepost 18 Apartment Living Program offers young adults 17 to 21 years of age that are ready to transition to community living, a continuum of services and levels of care and supervision based on their abilities and needs. The continuum provides assessment, transitional living service planning, daily living skills training, educational, vocational and employment referral, assistance and monitoring and ongoing supervision and support initially in a reality-based supervised apartment setting with an eventual step-down to a semi-supervised apartment setting.

 Ensuring young adults have the support and the skills to live successfully on their own.

 Dominion Youth Services is committed to stepping young adults down to the most appropriate and least restrictive setting in a planned, cost effective manner that provides them with continuity, consistency and an ongoing support system all of which is critical to their long-term success.

• Individual Assessment:  Each young adult will initially have an assessment utilizing the Ansell-Casey Life Skills Inventory to determine their readiness and skill level and to develop an individualized transitional living plan to maximize success.
• Housing:  The program offers two levels of care and housing on a continuum with a step-down from a supervised to a semi-supervised setting:

 Semi-Supervised Apartment Setting:  After successful completion of the supervised apartment component the young adult is stepped down to a semi-supervised apartment setting.  Program staff helps the young adult negotiate an apartment lease utilizing IL stipends and employment earnings.  Supervision in the semi-supervised apartment setting is tailored to the needs of the young adult and can be arranged from daily to weekly.  Emergency on-call services are provided to all participants. An unannounced check takes place randomly throughout the week. 

• Services:  The young adults in both settings will be provided with care coordination and case management, daily living and social skills training and educational and vocational support and monitoring.

1. Male or female between 17 and 20 years of age.
2. The young adult must be able to function in an open setting and have shown capacity for sound judgment as it related to their physical safety and the well being of others in the community at-large.
3. The young adult must have a commitment to work and educational/vocational training. All participants must agree to be involved in a minimum combination of 40 hours of vocational/educational training and employment.
4. The young adult must have graduated from high school or have a GED or are entering their senior year or are enrolled in a GED program. 

1. Current or recent history (within the last six months) of aggressive behavior.
2. History of fire setting, homicidal ideation or sexual offenses
3. Recent history of suicidal ideation and/or self-harming behavior (within the last six months).
4. Serious medical problems that require special care.
5. Serious physical or mental disability.
6. Active or recent history (within the last six months) substance abuse.

For more information or to make a referral contact:  The Milepost 18 Staff at (804) 377-3427