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To apply to Moving Forward, an individual first needs to schedule a program visit.  During the initial visit, the prospective resident and his or her family will meet with Moving Forward’s Executive Director and will be given a tour of the program.  Subsequent visits will be scheduled so that the prospective resident can have an opportunity to experience life at Moving Forward.  Before the 24 hour visit, all individuals need to send in a completed application along with educational records, medical records, psychological reports, and intellectual assessments.  Enrollment is open year-round, provided there is space available

To arrange a visit, please contact us

 

our program

We offer hope and life lessons to young adults with learning disabilities. Whether they struggle with a severe learning disability or ADHD, high functioning autism, Asperger’s or a mild developmental disability, each and every resident has their own set of unique challenges. But one thing they all have in common is their incredible abilities.

Transitional Program

The first phase of the program is the transitional program. New residents live on the grounds of Elm which consists of two homes and a small adjacent apartment building.  The Transitional Program is very structured in its design, and staff members are available to assist the residents. In this living situation, the residents either works in a competitive job setting for usually 20 hours per week, attend the local community college or they volunteer within the community. In the volunteer situations, a staff member accompanies the residents in order to assist them in developing job skills as well as fostering the appropriate social skills in a work setting. Each resident is also assigned a case manager who is the liaison between home and Moving Forward and the person who works with the Moving Forward resident on specific skill development.

click here to see a sample of our monthly calendar

There is always staff available in the Transitional Program to assist with the residents as they move through their day.  There is one overnight staff who sleeps in one of the houses.  Adjacent to the Elm Street Property is the Franklin Street Property. The Franklin Street Units are comprised of four apartments large enough to accommodate two residents each. The residents who live at the Franklin Street units have demonstrated the ability to follow a routine, cook their own meals and maintain their personal and community spaces. Most importantly, the residents of Franklin Street have demonstrated their ability to make good decisions in terms of safety within the community. Although staff monitors the residents at Franklin Street, there is no on-site staff person. Because its close proximity to Elm Street, however, the Franklin Street residents are able to experience apartment living with the added security of knowing that a staff member is only "a stone's throw" away should they require assistance.

Community Living

Upon acquiring the necessary daily living skills and demonstrating the ability to make sound adult decisions, residents transition into their own apartments or houses within the community of Napa. 

Moving Forward residents continue to grow and maintain the skills they have learned and acquire greater levels of independence while receiving ongoing support from staff in the Community Living program.  Emergency preparedness, budgeting, accessing the community safely, utilizing community resources and services, dealing with landlords and neighbors effectively, are just a few of the many necessary learning components of the program. The residents in the Community Living Program live in apartments or homes that are typically located within a few blocks of the Transitional Program. In this setting, residents receive varying degrees of case management support, money management, home maintenance and job coaching. Most of the Community Living residents maintain a 20 to 40 hour per week work schedule. The case manager has the primary role of liaison between program, job and home. A clear understanding of safety and one's community are the prime factors that are considered when a resident is placed in their own apartment. Each participant receives one to one ongoing support at their community home from our staff to ensure a community living experience that is successful and to help each participant become an active community member who feels confident and happy with their living situation.  

Participants in the Community Living program continue to attend Moving Forward classes and group activities at the site of the Transitional Program.  Additionally, Moving Forward's vocational support is an ongoing service for all persons served, regardless of the residential services component the participant progresses to.

Vocational Support

Our residents have an opportunity to explore various work options and gain hands-on training. Jobs are matched carefully with our residents' interests and abilities. Napa has many diverse employment settings available which provide challenging career opportunities.
The vocational part of the program is overseen by Moving Forwards Director of Case Management. We also work very closely with the Department of Rehabilitation and other Napa employment agencies. The residents who are employed are receiving job coaching and support. Current Napa employers are Safeway, Meritage, Vallergas Grocer, Walmart, Family Drug, Camp Rawhide and others. Moving Forward offers several local volunteer opportunities for those residents who are currently not employed (Humane Society, Napa Valley Food Bank, Connolly Ranch, Shearer School, etc.)

Life Skills and Enhancement Classes

Community Activities and Classes
Moving Forward has partnered with the community to create learning opportunities and classes for our residents. Many of these classes are held on the Moving Forward grounds while others involve the resident's participation out in the community. Some examples of these classes include theatre arts and dance.  Residents also participate in classes at the Napa Valley Adult School and Napa Valley Community College.

Health and Fitness Classes
The health of Moving Forward residents is always a priority. Moving Forward offers a variety of classes, throughout the changing seasons, to keep residents active and healthy. At least two fitness classes per week are offered each term. Many residents also belong to the local gym. Residents can enjoy bike riding through out the valley or physical fitness to keep in shape!

Life Enrichment Classes
Learning and creativity go hand-in-hand. Moving Forward's life enrichment classes were designed for the residents to learn new skills while using their creativity and having fun. These classes involve many skills that can be used on a daily basis as well as increasing the sense of kinship within the Moving Forward community. Moving Forward offers many classes in this group, but some of them include creative writing, arts & crafts and music. Moving Forward is fortunate to have many talented staff and as a result as developed a comprehensive art and music program.

Life Skills Classes
The educational component consists of daily classes designed to enhance and strengthen one's independent living skills. The independent living skills classes are taught primarily by Moving Forward staff.  Moving Forward offers twelve to fifteen classes per week during its three terms per year.  These classes include budgeting, cooking, and community access to name a few.  The number of classes each resident is required to take is individualized based upon personal need.

Social Skills Classes
Much emphasis throughout the program is placed on the importance of developing strong social skills.  Whether to improve an individual’s job performance, help someone find and maintain friendships or learning how to live with a roommate, this is a critical component of life.  Moving Forward offers several classes each term that focuses on social thinking, healthy relationships, and building positive self-esteem to name a few.  Most of these classes are taught by Moving Forward’s Clinical Coordinator or outside professionals.

Volunteer opportunities

Volunteering truly makes a difference in people's lives and creates a sense of pride and honor in those who give their time to the community. Moving Forward has partnered with several organizations in the community, including the Napa Valley Food Bank and the Humane Society, to create rewarding and beneficial volunteer opportunities for our residents.

Click here for our complete course catalog!