Restoration House of Northern Michigan
Gain Life Skills: HOPE
Restoration House is a safe and caring home for young women ages 18-24 who have aged out of foster care or who need to leave an unstable living situation. We’ve made it our mission to empower you with the coaching, opportunities, and relationships you need to create lasting change.
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The young women in our program learn essential life skills such as time and money management, meal planning and cooking, self-care, relationship skills, and car care. Our personalized coaching can help you achieve such milestones as getting a driver's license, finding a job, purchasing a car, getting an education, opening a savings account, and more!
How it Works: Five Phases to a New Life
01
Fresh Start
The Big Picture: Am I feeling safe and supported? Am I ready to lay a new foundation?
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We begin with a Fresh Start, allowing you time to adjust and make your new home your own. You'll begin thinking about 7 areas of growth we will work on throughout all phases of the RH Program: self-care, future housing, finances, education/career, community involvement, healthy relationships, and personal health and wellness--physical, spiritual, and emotional. Take a breath and settle in. When you are ready, we will help you start working toward your goals.​​​​​​
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03
Framing a New Life
The Big Picture: Have I successfully laid a strong foundation? Am I ready to begin building my new life?
In this phase you will build on the foundation you have laid, creating a framework that will set you up for success. You will learn how to pay bills and save; explore career options and develop interview skills; volunteer in the community; get health insurance; and understand more about who you are and how to interact with others in healthy ways. You will continue to work on healing emotionally and spiritually.
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05
Finishing: Moving Into Healthy Adult Living
The Big Picture: Am I ready to commit to a transition plan and launch my new life?
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​This is the exciting final phase of the RH Program, as you prepare to step out into the adult life you have planned for yourself! You will be involved in a stable job or career path; keep a monthly budget and have money saved for emergencies; know how to care well for your body and soul; be connected to others in the community; understand how to form healthy relationships; and be able to find safe and affordable housing as you "graduate" from Restoration House!
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02
Laying a Firm Foundation
The Big Picture: Am I embracing the Program?
​This is the beginning of the exciting process of transforming your life. You will create dreams and goals in each of the 7 life areas and take practical steps to get started, such as getting a driver's license or state ID; working toward high school graduation, a GED, or community college; creating a budget; getting dental and doctor's checkups; and learning what healthy relationships look like. Your Life Coach will help you with each step as you move forward into your future!​​​
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04
Fitting the Bricks
The Big Picture: Am I working step-by-step on a long-term plan to achieve independence?
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​Now it's time to sharpen your focus on the future and begin preparing for life beyond Restoration House! You will learn how to manage your schedule; pay bills and continue to save; find safe and affordable housing; work reliably at school and/or in a job; plan, shop for, and prepare meals; volunteer in the community; and make sure you develop at least a couple of strong and supportive relationships. You are on your way, and we're cheering you on!
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Life After Restoration House
Once you have left Restoration House to establish your own life, we hope you will stay in touch, come back often to see us, and even share your own transforming life with newer and younger women who have come home to Restoration House. While our program has no fixed time period -- each person will complete it at her own pace -- we hope the relationships you form and grow with us (and with each other) will last for a lifetime -- and beyond. We will always be here for you -- we hope you will consider us "family!"