Tracy Bailey

Onward Transitions for Emerging Adults

Onward Transitions in S. Portland, Maine, just two hours north of Boston, is a small, independent, owner-operated program for up to 18 bright, motivated, emerging adults learning to live on their own. OT supports actual, sustainable independent living, helping emerging adults become more autonomous. Participants (members) ages 18-30 never live with us; they live in their apartments throughout the city, selected according to personal preferences and resources. Members have to be in the driver's seat to become autonomous adults, and we serve as their guard rails. Our clinical and coaching teams (staff to student ratio is 1:2) support them with structure and accountability while working towards the goals members have established using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Coaches help members settle into their apartments, set up utilities, maintain upkeep, and communicate with their landlords. Unlike living in program housing or living with a roommate, members experience real-life accountability. Members are kind, accepting, bright, and motivated to live on their own. Clinical foci include mild to moderate anxiety, depression, and EF/ND/LD challenges. OT provides multiple sessions of weekly individual and group therapy, and family work by our four full-time, on-site master's level therapists specializing in ACT. The typical length is 12 months. Each member has a customized schedule based on their commitments to work, learning, service, and therapeutic process. Members gather at our Pine House for meals (twice daily), therapy, coaching, and 10 weekly group offerings. Members walk, bike, drive their own cars, use our shuttle, and have individual OT corporate UBER accounts, to get to and from our Pine House. The Pine House is also open for drop-in visits, spontaneous gatherings, snacks, and camaraderie with other members and our staff. OT provides regular apartment consults and 24-hour on-call services. OT welcomes all genders.