Award Ceremony: Celebrating The Total Me Program

Last week residents attended an awards ceremony celebrating their success in the Total Me Program. Every resident was awarded for participation as well as their follow through for exceeding expectations. Residents have committed to the program and are exuding positive feedback about the program.

The program focuses on different areas, all with the goal for residents to improve themselves by committing to change and to grow as individuals, as well as a team. The six areas in the program are civic responsibility, the house, literacy, employment/career, social skills, and leadership. Throughout the day students rotate through different sessions and learn skill sets based on the areas while working as a team. The residents are acquiring certain skills, responsibility, and leadership that will help them grow and become successful members of society.

The program is challenging to the residents, but it has been a positive experience that has given them structure and it creates new expectations. Kathryn Douglass, a manager at Covenant House Michigan’s main campus developed the Total Me experience. “The program provides a greater opportunity to support their day-to-day structure. This is much like a college experience with instructors and expectations which remain consistent every day.”

The main focus of the program is to instill skill sets from all points of life that the residents can carry into the future. By teaching and giving them all the skills necessary to be successful in life, residents should be able to find a career and be able to look for long-term employment.

The positive feedback from residents has given staff new ideas and approaches to add to and enhance the program. Residents are willing to challenge themselves and follow through while meeting their goals. This helps them grow and give them the necessary life skills they need to work towards a successful future. The residents are not only becoming employment ready, but they are learning to maintain their jobs by the combined aspects of the Total Me program.