15 Questions for a Young Adult to Ask Programs
When I work with a young adult, no matter the level of care or support we’re looking at for them, I will prompt them to create a list of interview questions for potential providers or programs. First, I think this is just a translatable skill that we need to encourage our young adults to be doing. Thinking through what questions to ask a potential employer or being interviewed themselves for a job. No, it’s not the same, but the act of preparing questions and preparing answers is. Now back to the list.
There are very common questions young adults often want or need to know. Some of them don’t think about what they need to ask, which is why I email them a list of around 15 questions to read over, and then they can decide which questions are important for them to ask. They can also create and add their own questions, in the off-chance I didn’t include a question I thought they’d want to know the answer of.
Below are a list of topics, and corresponding questions for a young adult to ask a potential program:
Housing. What is the living situation like when you arrive? (house, apartment, etc.) You're trying to figure out if you’re sharing a room or have your own space.
Expectations of first 3 Days. In general, what can you expect when you first move there?
Timeline. What is the typical timeline? What is the minimum commitment for length of stay, and what is the average for graduating and moving out independently from the program?
Free time. Do they have down time? And is it built in the schedule?
Communication with Family. What does communication look like with your parents? Will there be formalized family therapy sessions?
Academics. How many young adults do they have working on high school/GED completion? How many are taking college or vocational classes? What are the local school options? How does the program support this process?
Activities. What types of activities do they participate in? (think: activities with the program, and activities they encourage for participating in the community outside of the program)
Current Participants. Describe the current community. What types of people are there that you'd be in community with (asking about age, issues being worked on, etc.). You want to make sure this community is who you'll fit well with.
Technology. What is the policy around technology? Are you able to have your phone or laptop freely? Are there any controls or restrictions on any of the tech access? If you have a gaming console, can you bring it? What are the restrictions are this? Keep in mind you’re asking about access to your phone because it also means giving you access to continue communicating with your friends, or significant other.
Phases. If there are phases, what do they look like? (you're trying to learn the typical timeline for each "level" and what that means for independence and freedom for you)
Therapist(s). Who are they matchmaking you with as your potential therapist? Can you ask to speak with that person (just to meet them) to see if you think they’re a match for you? What are their credentials, and what are they trained in?
Employment. How quickly can you apply for jobs? Are there restrictions on where you can work, and the amount of time worked? If you’ve never had a job before, what type of resume, interviewing, etc. type of support can they provide for you?
Transportation. Is there public transportation? How do other participants get from the house and program to work or school? Can you walk around town, or bike? If you don’t have a driver’s license, can they help you go through the steps of getting that while in the program?
Money. Will they help you set up a bank account to deposit the money from your job? Will they teach you budgeting? Will they help you set a goal for money saved to move out into your own place? Are their restrictions on what you can spend your money on while in the program?
Diet and Exercise. Will they teach you to menu plan, shop, and cook? Will they educate you on nutrition? Will you limited with ordering food on DoorDash? Will they require you work out daily or weekly? Do they provide a gym membership? Will they exposure you to new types of physical activities to see what you like to make working out more enjoyable?
And anything else you may want to ask about!
For clients who need a single-gender program, I encourage them to ask a question related to that. For clients who need recovery-focused options, I encourage them to ask about local meetings, drug testing, and relapse prevention plans. For clients who need help with executive functioning, I encourage them to ask about additional support staff dedicated to this. For clients who are setting a goal to return to their previous college or university at a specific semester start time, I encourage them to ask about letters of support written, or any type of retroactive withdrawal support (should that student need it).
This is only a short list of what I see as the top 15 questions most young adults ought to consider asking about before they plan for themselves. No program is perfect, but by asking the right questions, you’ll be able to find a program option that probably feels “just right” for what they’re looking for at that time.
For questions or comments contact Joanna.
