Program Overview | Southern Arizona | Yavapai County, Arizona | New Mexico
Out-of-Home Placements for Youth
Semi-Independent Living Residences for 16-17 Year Olds
The Semi-Independent Living Residential Program is designed to serve youth who have been living in a group home following their removal from home by Child Protective Services and will not be returning to their biological, adoptive or foster family. As children approach the age of emancipation, their 18th birthday, they must prepare to live on their own. Because many of them have not had the luxury of having a nurturing home life that has prepared them for the future, Intermountain has developed a facility that serves not only as their residence but also as a training facility. The Zia Apartments serve 10-12 youth at a time. Each teenager resides in an apartment with a roommate. Staffing is not only supportive of their behavioral and emotional needs but also help the residents develop the skills and self-sufficiency that they will require when they take up residence in the community, on their own.
Daily skills required to live independently include maintaining and furnishing their home as a safe environment, maintaining good hygiene, accessing community resources and services; seeking, obtaining and maintaining employment; accessing community resources and services; using the public transportation system; learning proper nutrition and menu planning; practicing grocery shopping and cooking; maintaining physical and mental health, adopting healthy leisure and recreational interests; planning for the future; and being a good community member.
Residents of the Zia Apartments are expected to complete their high school education or equivalency, find employment, and acquire skills and resources that will aid them as they set up housekeeping for themselves on their 18th birthday. Individualized goals and objectives are developed for each resident, and direct their skill acquisition during their residence at Zia.
Contact and Referral Information
Mike Stoutimore, PhD
Intermountain Centers for Human Development
P.O. Box 17749
Tucson, AZ 85731-7749
Tel: (520) 721-1887
Fax: (520) 721-0069
Email: annec@ichd.net
Success Story
Jessica Turns her Life Around
Jessica was referred to Angel House one year ago due to a history of neglect and sexual abuse in her family, which led to removal from her home. She was treated through outpatient therapy with Las Familias, wraparound/ home-based services in therapeutic foster and group homes, and acute psychiatric hospitalizations. In foster care, Jessica actively used alcohol and marijuana, and engaged in self-injurious behavior (cutting herself.) Finally, she was placed at Intermountain’s Angel House where the structure of the therapeutic program would help her stabilize her mood and refrain from self-injury. She lived there for 6 months, forming meaningful relationships with staff members who helped Jessica identify her strengths and positive leisure interests, and engage in community activities. A network of friends and mentors provided her with motivation to comply with her program and keep her safe. Jessica was so successful at Angel House that she transitioned to the Intermountain semi-independent living apartments. During her sophomore year in a public high school, she obtained a CASA scholarship (which she will use at Pima Community College) and worked part-time in an office. Over the summer, she maintained a summer job through Youth Job Corps. Jessica rarely thinks about harming herself anymore, but is able to actively seek help when this does occur. She joined her high school golf team, received another CASA scholarship during her Senior year and graduated from high school a semester early!