The mission of our New Horizons Transition home is to augment the core principles of Whetstone Academy’s Wheel of Success™ program by offering a normalized step-down daily living experience through simulating a normalized home environment in order to bridge the gap between program and the next phase of life, while assessing the young man’s readiness to graduate.
New Horizons
The Transition House
New Horizons is a powerful experience for young men when they are looking to transition from the Whetstone community into the next phase of their life.
A Student is typically ready to transition when they have developed new skills and have proven that they have earned the privilege to move to the next step of their journey. As a student gains insight, wisdom, experience and confidence, he will bond with others and become more confident.
Our students will be ready to face new found responsibility and use those experience to grow into a healthy, productive member of the Transition Home.
These experiences will prepare him for the next steps in life as he prepares leaves Whetstone.
The talks that I have had with my therapist have allowed me to reflect and build upon lessons I have learned which have helped me to strengthen the relationship I have with my parents.
While at Whetstone, I have learned to better use my coping skills for when I am struggling. I would recommend Whetstone to any of my friends who were struggling with anxiety.
Whetstone does not enable you. It gives you the tools to become a better person everyday. No matter what the outcome, the staff at Whetstone always provide you with hope for your future.
Increased Responsibility and Privilege
Real World Experience:
- Off-campus housing with on-campus activities 5 days a week.
- Home-like atmosphere.
- Weekly individual, family and group therapy focused on transition planning (i.e.- contract development) and how to transfer adaptive skills.
- Continuation of leadership & mentoring students at Whetstone Academy.
- Continuation of community service in Upstate S.C. and surrounding areas.
- Using the “Wheel of Success” to assess Integrity, Emotional, Social, Relational, and Behavioral preparedness for next step.
- Increasing self-sufficiency and responsibility (i.e. – having their own room, assisting with meal preparations).
- Normalizing daily transitions (i.e. – driving to and from school, having more self-directed time/ activities.
- Increasing access to technology with daily computer and phone opportunities.
- Focusing on planning ahead and preparing for daily life on their own (i.e.: bringing homework to school) as well as on returning home/ next placement.