Aloft focuses on each client’s personal development and readiness for independence. We also assist our clients in functioning optimally with their family, peer relationships and community, as well as helping them develop healthy living habits.
Aloft’s life skills and personal development assessment focuses on client’s skills and abilities in the following areas:
- Self-care (hygiene, diet, exercise, sleep habits, vitamins/medication)
- Behavioral (personal safety, physical/verbal control, attitude/manners)
- Self-Image (developing a positive and realistic view of oneself in the world)
- Emotional management (establishing a stable mood state, expressing emotions in a safe and respectful manner)
- Coping skills (handling life stressors in a healthy manner, self-soothing when upset)
- Budget (learning how to manage money in a responsible manner)
- Needs/Goals (understanding personal needs and desires, and demonstrating the ability to set personal benchmarks for progress)
- Values and attributes (clarifying the qualities that give life meaning)
- Responsibility for one’s home and living environment (taking care of personal space, home, bill paying, etc.)
- Work ethic and personal integrity
- Interpersonal relationships (demonstrating effective social skills)
- Family relationships (improving or healing relationships to significant family members)
- Community involvement and community service
Within the milieu we also focus on assessing developmental readiness of each client in order to determine which areas he or she may need mentoring and coaching in order to function at an age-appropriate and independent level.
Treatment Planning
An individualized treatment plan is developed for each client covering all of the above areas.
Parents, staff and the client complete assessment interviews that are also incorporated into the overall plan. The client is assisted in recognizing areas where they are already successful and are demonstrating age-appropriate development, and are helped to determine areas of need where their functioning is less mature and in need of further development. The treatment plan is established with specific goals to help the client learn and practice the skills that they are deficient in.
Through this process clients are assisted in moving into a more mature and independent level of functioning.
Therapy Services
Each client participates in at least one individual therapy session and one group therapy session weekly.
Therapy is designed to educate clients regarding healthy functioning and helping clients resolve issues which may have interfered with their development and weekly progress. Activities and daily life in the milieu at Aloft allow clients to practice the skills they are learning. Each client has an individual therapist who is responsible for coordinating their treatment plan and maintaining communication with the family. Family therapy (phone, video conference, and face to face) allows the client to improve communication with the family and resolve issues of conflict.
Many clients come to Aloft having difficulty managing their emotional states of anger, depression, and anxiety. They are assisted through group therapy in being better able to manage difficult emotions and maintain successful relationships. Groups focus on teaching emotional management, communication, and conflict resolution skills, and values clarification.
Values Clarification
At Aloft we believe that clients also need support in identifying the internal values that will help guide them through life. We respect the diversity and individuality of each client. We work with our clients to help them identify and explore the cultural, philosophical and spiritual values each client brings with him or her. We teach and guide them to integrate their values into their lives in a way that will help them be most successful and satisfied in life.
Aloft’s Program Values are:
- Honesty
- Integrity
- Team Work
- Trust
- Responsibility
- Work Ethic
- Relationships
- Respect
- Initiative
- Kindness
- Confidence
- Leadership
Academics
Students at Aloft can complete high school, attend college, or pursue a technical certification. Boise has four 4-year universities, two 2-year colleges, several private colleges, and a slew of technical colleges that our students take advantage of.
Learning support is coordinated through campus learning support, Aloft in-house tutors, and contracted tutors. We assess students’ learning needs based on academic testing, academic history, and prior learning services engaged. Testing can be arranged if necessary.
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteering is an integral part of our clients’ experience. Group service opportunities: Aloft clients participate in projects associated with various non-profit organizations and State and Federal groups. Aloft has worked with The World Center of Birds of Prey, Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation, Babby Farms, State Commission of Libraries, etc. Aloft utilizes volunteerism to help develop employment skills, work ethic, and to build a resume and references. Volunteering is used as a resume builder for future employment when our clients have not had any previous work experience.
These opportunities also teach stewardship in how we care for our environment and how we utilize and share resources. Our goal is that this teaches our clients how to look outside their own preferences, learn new skills and abilities, and teach them the value of serving others.
Vocational Support and Resume building
Each new Client is given a career assessment (if one has not been done recently) to determine their interests, aptitudes, and “likes” from past work experiences. Based on this assessment the treatment team helps each client set specific goals and move toward individual success in volunteering and finding appropriate work opportunities. Our staff mentors are trained to work with and help each client have success in the path they choose or have interest in.
Our young adults have participated in a number of great volunteer opportunities including:
- MK Nature Center
- Word Center for Birds of Prey
- Boise Zoo
- Idaho botanical gardens
- Babby farms
- Create common good
- Discovery center
Additional Therapeutic Services
Aloft also provides Psychiatric services through a local psychiatrist, Dr. Grant Belnap, for medication management and other services as needed. Aloft’s therapist attends all psychiatry appointments and updates parents on their young adult’s psychiatry progress and needs.
Social and Life Skills
Aloft participants learn the life skills critical to independence with the support of staff. Clients receive guidance in establishing a residence and how to maintain a clean, orderly living area. Clients also work with staff mentors in the planning and preparation of nutritionally balanced meals and creating a shopping list. Mentors coach clients on food selection and managing a food budget. All expenses and spending are closely monitored. As clients demonstrate responsible financial management they gain increased control and access to their finances.
Personal Health and Fitness
Believing that physical fitness and recreation are vital components to leading a happy, healthy life, our clients are required to join the local gym where they have access to a personal trainer who helps them set and attain reasonable fitness goals. The facility offers a full range of cardiovascular and resistance training equipment, and nutrition instruction and other specialty classes. The community has two swimming pools and a variety of other extra-curricular activities, including the sports complex with an indoor soccer field, skate park and batting cages. Aloft staff work out alongside clients, helping with motivation and support.
Outdoor Recreation Program
Aloft’s Recreation Program focuses on building self-efficacy through skill building and real accomplishment. Efficacy building recreation is balanced fun and entertainment. We plan for about three efficacy building activities for everyone entertainment activity. Abundant opportunities are available for outdoor recreation during program organized weekend adventure trips.
Activities include hiking, backpacking, white water rafting, kayaking, biking, fishing, rock climbing, caving, archery, and music and art lessons. Entertainment activities include art festivals, ballet, movies, trampoline gym, and go-cart racing.
Independent Living Phase
Clients move into independent living apartments where they will continue with weekly therapy, 2 hours a week of one on one mentoring, and all recreation activities.