• Room & Board in a beautiful apartment complex
  
• Individualized Emotional, Educational, and Career Development plans developed conjointly with participants
  
• Work experiences in a diversity of fields
  
• Two psycho-dynamically oriented counseling groups per week
  
• Special counseling groups designed to assist with social skills development (if indicated)
  
• Apartment/Milieu counseling groups
  
• Supportive and compassionate staff. Members are involved with participants 24/7.
  
• Supportive Milieu of peers
  
• Parental contact with OPI that may include weekly updates if indicated
  
• Updates for Educational Consultants when indicated
  
• A comprehensive Substance Abuse Program (when indicated) including:
  
• Individualized and group substance abuse counseling
  
• Attendance at 12-step meetings and programs such as ALANON, CODA, or ACA
  
• Two Substance Abuse meetings held in OPI apartments: one based on a 12-step model, another more social and individually focused.
  
• Random drug testing with frequency individually determined
  


• OPI also:
  
• Helps Participants decide what school to attend and what classes to take
  
• Participants may attend a variety of schools in the area such as Cal State Northridge, Pierce Junior College, Moorpark College, Cal Lutheran, UCLA or UCLA Extension, Santa Monica City College, Los Angeles Film School, or The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM).
  
• Participants may also take lessons at Playhouse West, Musician's Institute, and Westlake Culinary Institute.
  
• Helps Participants find a job (if appropriate)
  
• Provides transportation to and from all jobs, appointments, classes, etc.
  
• Provides mentors/role models (if appropriate): These are successful and creative adults in fields participants express an interest in experiencing and/or learning more about.
  
• Provides weekly activities designed to expose participants to a wide variety of educational, cultural, and recreational activities and experiences
  
• Provides Volunteer opportunities
  


• Specialized services that are available for an additional fee include:
  
• Individual psychotherapy
  
• Psychopharmacological medication management
  
• Specialized individual educational remedial help
  
• Individual instruction in music and the arts
  
• Access to fitness training
  
• Access to martial arts training
  
• Access to yoga training
  
  

*Fees charged by individual therapists, educational institutions and instuctors are extra.

Phase One: (Supervisory Stage)

• Everything mentioned above plus Participants:
• Live under the supervision of an Independent Living Specialist (ILS)
  
• Receive educational support
  
• Receive instruction in Independent Living Skills
  
• Volunteer in the Woodland Hills area if appropriate
  
• Meet daily with staff to learn to set weekly goals, schedules and budgets
  

Phase Two:

• Everything available in Phase One, but requirements to attend structured and group activities are gradually reduced depending on the participant’s progress. Our goal is to help young adults learn to make skillful choices and progress into finding their way in the real world.
  
• Participants meet with ILS staff weekly or more if indicated to review goals, weekly schedules, and budgets.
  
• Participants must still:
  
• Attend two psycho-dynamically oriented groups per week
  
• Attend the Apartment/Milieu counseling groups
  
• Attend two outings per month with the additional OPI activities and experiences available
  
• Maintain supportive relationships with the OPI staff, mentors, graduates, and current participants
  

OPI After Care:

• Participants in the OPI After Care Program live in their own apartments nearby and continue to be active members of the OPI community and network. They have on-going access to and supervision from all OPI staff and the Program Director. They attend OPI community activities, outings, and experiences, and receive continued peer and staff support.
• After Care Participants:
• Attend OPI group counseling sessions twice per week
  
• Attend OPI mandated outings/activities
  
• Meet weekly with the Program Director or designee
  
• Have site visits by ILS staff and receive help with meal planning, budgets, grocery shopping, etc.
  
• Receive advice from OPI staff and administration on how to rent and furnish their own apartment
  

After completion of the program, OPI encourages former participants to continue to attend OPI groups and maintain supportive relationships with OPI staff, mentors and former graduates.


back to top