After high school--transitional programs?

[inkling16]

While we are assuming nothing, it seems within the realm of possibility that our DD19 will at last graduate from high school in June. At this point she doesn't feel ready for college (though she'll probably apply anyway and see what happens), and her therapist is recommending that we find some type of residential transitional program for the summer after graduation where she can work on basic life skills and taming her crippling anxiety. If she emerges successfully from such a program, she might be able to start college in the fall, at least part-time.

She spent the summer of 2012 in residential treatment, and entered a boarding school (not therapeutic, but small and supportive) in fall 2013. She's struggled against the high level of structure at school, and at several points has talked about dropping out, getting her GED and finding a job. If we had thought she could achieve either of those things, we probably would have not stood in her way about quitting school, but we know that if she weren't in school, she would sleep all day and party all night, because that's what she does during school breaks despite expressed intentions to do something more productive.

So my question is, has anyone used a transitional program that they would recommend (or not recommend)? We're looking for something where she can live in an apartment and practice being independent, but with a therapeutic program and support, and is allowed/encouraged/required to work, go to school, do volunteer work, or otherwise interact with the outside world. The 3East program at McLean in Massachusetts sounds like it might be what we're looking for, but I don't know how difficult it is to get into.

We're flexible on location and will expect to pick up the cost, though we might get insurance to pay for the therapy part.

Any suggestions helpful!

Our objective is to better understand the struggles our child faces and to learn the skills to improve our relationship and provide a supportive environment and also improve on our own emotional responses, attitudes and effectiveness as a family leaders

[Rapt Reader]

Hello, inkling16 & 

I'm really sorry for the troubles you are having with your daughter, and can understand your fears for her future... .All of us who post on the Board have been there, and lots of us are there still! I don't have any knowledge of any Transitional Programs for someone just out of High School, and the one you are mentioning could be very good. You've checked it out online? Was it recommended to you? Does your daughter have any Professionals involved with her who could help you out?

Here's a link that might have the information you need: NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness. There is a search bar where you can search your own location/area, and put in others that are acceptable to you. I hope it helps... .

The right program is very important; my own adult (37) son had gone through 2 "regular" Rehabs for a multi-year Heroin addiction, and relapsed after both of them. A year after the last Rehab, he was admitted to a Dual Diagnosis Program as an In-Patient for 21 days, where he was diagnosed with BPD and treated 24/7 with DBT and other intensive Therapies. And this one "stuck" and he is now more than 22 months clean and sober and the happiest and healthiest he's been in years!

Since you don't need to rely on only Health Insurance to fund this for her, you really have lots of options... .Maybe run a search on Dual Diagnosis Centers/Programs? I don't know where you live, but my son's was at the Bradford Regional Medical Center, Bradford, PA. It was stellar, and I do highly recommend it. It's not a Transitional Program, but maybe they could give you some guidance on that? It wouldn't be out of my comfort zone, if I were you, to give them a call (they have a website with all their information) and pick their brains in order to save my kid 

Good luck, and please keep us in the loop... .We are here to help you, inkling16 

[rationalmind]

I would love too to hear from others who might know of such programs. Resources in our area are very limited. I struggled to keep my daughter in school, too--she ultimately dropped out after we tried many efforts, special accomodations at school, and an online program (she only had a few credits left) but she wasn't successful.  I wish I hadn't let her drop out but in reality I couldn't stop it and am still hopeful she will get her GED as she is very smart. She's currently trying to make it on her own (I can't imagine she will be able to hold down a job too long) so I'm learning to accept her but I still fear for her.