COMMUNITY LIFE
Overview
The
Community Life Program (CLP) is designed to offer a structured, community-focused
day for individuals who are either not working or working a limited
number of hours.
Chapel Haven’s CLP provides participants
with opportunities to explore, interact and volunteer in the Greater
New Haven community.
The four cornerstones of the program are developing healthy lifestyles
by increasing interpersonal skills and socialization, constructively
managing free time, participating in regular exercise and healthy
eating habits and enjoying the numerous offerings in the Greater
New Haven community.
Developing Healthy Lifestyles
The program helps participants develop productive daily routines,
through the group preparation of a healthy lunch and daily exercise.
Additionally, shared meals offer a social opportunity that will develop
into lifelong habits for our participants. Participants also work
to create and meet personal diet and fitness goals. Participants
learn how to plan and host activities in their own homes as well
as local excursions with friends outside CLP operating hours.
Increase Interpersonal Skills and Socialization
Individuals learn to strengthen their interpersonal skills through
daily group discussions, assertiveness education, and incidental
teaching opportunities when in the community. Group participants
also work on their socialization skills through volunteering, lunch
outings, and other community activities when exploring New Haven
and the surrounding areas.
Managing Free Time
CLP also focuses on assisting individuals with the skills needed
to plan, facilitate, and implement their own activities of interest.
The group gives input when planning group activities and also pools
and shares community resources by scanning local newspapers, the
Internet and community calendars for activities of interest.
The CLP Schedule And Enjoying Community Resources
Participants may enroll full-time (four days per week) or part-time
(one to three days per week). A typical CLP day begins at 9:30 AM
with socialization and a group discussion of the day’s activities,
which typically includes volunteer work, a cultural offering, a participant-prepared
meal, and physical activity. Participants learn the logistics of
planning a trip from start to finish. A sampling of places recently
visited by the CLP include:
- St. Ann’s Soup Kitchen
- Holocaust Memorial
- The Kellogg Environmental Center
- WTNH Channel 8 News Studio
- The New Haven Public Library
- Southern Connecticut State University Ethnic Center
- Connecticut State Capitol Building
- New Haven Reads Book Bank
- Yale University Art Gallery
- South Central Regional Water Authority
Individual Attention
The program is limited in size to no more than 30 participants on
any day, ensuring the program’s objective of socializing and
practicing social skills. Small groups allow for the development
of trust, friendships and interpersonal skills, and the opportunity
for equal participation.
Additionally, a group setting requires sharing of tasks and encourages
participants to cooperate and delegate. Finally, the program and
its group setting emphasize acquisition and enhancement of skills
including problem solving, planning activities, and making practical
arrangements.
According to the participants…
Audrey, a CLP participant, says, “I like to deliver meals to
the AIDS patients. I like to make lunches. I also like the other
people in the day program. I would tell someone if they want to
join they would have a good time and make new friends.”
According to Gordon, also a CLP participant, “CLP has helped
me prepare for a job by teaching me how to act during an interview,
to wear correct clothing, and to be on time. What I like most about
CLP is being with everyone and learning together. The advice that
I would give to someone thinking about joining CLP is to listen carefully
in group and do not wander off during any community trips.” |
