The Learning Clinic - P.O. Box 324, Brooklyn, CT 06234-0324 - Tel 860 774 5619

TLC Transition Program

Definition: The TLC Transitional Living Program is a community based life skill’s experience servicing TLC young men and women from 16 to 22 years of age. This program is available to individual TLC students who meet specific criteria after participating in the regular TLC residential program.

Not all students will benefit from the assisted living program and available space is also limited to only those candidates that have passed through pre-independent living phases of treatment and preparation at TLC or comparable programs. Transitional Living Program provides the next step toward independence.

Objectives: The objective is to provide an experiential program for students with expectations of either preparing for discharge from TLC, transitioning towards independent living, or moving on to a college experience. The goal is to allow youngsters to have the practice of living semi-independently while attending college courses or working towards a high school diploma.

Program Process: A goal is set for the student-candidate, which potentially follows a four-phase transition plan, contingent on age and abilities. Mobility and flexibility are available between the four phases to allow recovery from difficulties that result from greater independence.

Phase I - Rolling Ridge Residential Living. The Rolling Ridge residential program is located within the rural countryside of northeastern Connecticut. Students reside in homes. Each home is unique in design and size and provides a family-like, therapeutic environment for students of mixed ages and skills. The setting emphasizes family skills and community oriented activities to promote self-reliance and social skills development. The students participate in the daily tasks of running a home such as cooking, grocery shopping, chores, and planning activities.

All homes are staffed for 24-hour supervision by our house parents. Residences generally provide a house parent ratio of 1:4 with floating supervisory staff and a 24-hour clinical on-call system. Residential staff receive ongoing training in child care and psychological methods best suited for our students.

Through a formal system of operationally defined goals, families participate in the continuation of the program for home visitation on weekends and holidays. Evenings and weekends at residence include regular community activities as well as educational oriented field trips.

Phase II - Readiness for Assisted Living – Abington South and Elliot. Our readiness for assisted living program is for students who are 16 - 18 years old. We provide the support, structure, and supervision necessary to help students make choices about moving away from home and school environments. Our curriculum stresses self-reliance and goal-setting. The end result of the program is that students learn to solve problems and make decisions regarding work, living arrangements, health, money, transportation, and leisure. We include activities designed to improve self-esteem and social skills needed for independent living.

Phase III - Assisted Living – Pierce House and Pomfret North. The Pierce House is located in Brooklyn Village about 2 miles from the main campus. The house provides for 6 male students to have increased opportunities for independence while being mentored under conditions of less structure. Students are expected to be employed and/or enrolled in the community college. The Pierce House provides an experience that maintains therapeutic contacts and focus on social skills development. This is a prerequisite experience to apartment living. Male students who are 18 or older are eligible for this program option.

The Carriage House (for girls) is located on our main campus. The Carriage House uses the same set of expectations as those established for Pierce House. The aim is increasing independence and community involvement for our female students.

Pomfret North (18 or older) is on our main campus. The program provides monitoring and support to those students who are ready for the next step toward more independence.

Phase IV - Apartment Living. Our community living experience provides monitoring and support to those students who are ready for the next step toward more independence.