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Independent Living Curriculum

Independent Living Skills (Sample)

1. Personal Care Skills

Hygiene and grooming: Brushing teeth, showering, washing hair, and using deodorant.

  • Goal: Client gains the ability to complete daily hygiene and grooming.

  • Activity: Client participates in subject training course (written, video or live).

  • Measure: Client completes an assessment demonstrating sufficiency in knowledge gained.

  • Evaluation: Staff signs off on passed written and/or demonstrated assessment.

Dressing: Choosing appropriate and clean clothes based on weather and occasion.

  • Goal: Client gains ability to choose clean, weather appropriate clothing daily.

  • Activity: Client participates in subject training course (written, video or live).

  • Measure: Client completes an assessment demonstrating sufficiency in knowledge gained.

  • Evaluation: Staff signs off on passed written and/or demonstrated assessment.

Healthcare: Managing medication, scheduling appointments, and understanding basic health guidelines.

  • Goal: Client gains the ability to manage healthcare, appointments, and any needed medication.

  • Activity: Client participates in subject training course (written, video or live).

  • Measure: Client passes assessment demonstrating clear understanding of course material.

  • Evaluation: Staff signs off on passed assessment.

2. Household Management

Cooking and nutrition: Meal planning, grocery shopping, and cooking basic meals.

  • Goal: Client gains the ability to plan, prep and budget for basic meals.

  • Activity: Client participates in subject training course (written, video or live).

  • Measure: Client demonstrates clear understanding of course material (by performance and/or written assessment).

  • Evaluation: Staff signs off on demonstrated and/or written assessment.

Kitchen Safety: Understanding the importance of kitchen hygiene and preventing accidents.

  • Goal: Client gains understanding and application of kitchen safety and hygiene rules.

  • Activity: Client participates in subject training course (written, video or live).

  • Measure: Client demonstrates clear understanding of course material (by assessment or performance).

  • Evaluation: Staff signs off on demonstrated and/or written assessment.

Cleaning: Basic housekeeping tasks such as cleaning, washing dishes, doing laundry and maintaining a clean/healthy environment.

  • Goal: Client gains understanding and application of kitchen cleaning tasks.

  • Activity: Client participates in subject training course (written, video or live).

  • Measure: Client demonstrates clear understanding of course material (by assessment and/or performance).

  • Evaluation: Staff signs off on demonstrated and/or written assessment.

Home maintenance: Basic/minor home repair such as unclogging a sink or toilet, and using household tools.

  • Goal: Client gains understanding and ability to do minor household repairs.

  • Activity: Client participates in subject training course (written, video or live).

  • Measure: Client demonstrates clear understanding of course material (by assessment and/or performance).

  • Evaluation: Staff signs off on demonstrated and/or written assessment. 

3. Financial Management

Budgeting: Creating and managing a budget, understanding the concept of needs vs. wants.

  • Goal: Client gains knowledge of how to create and manage a practical budget.

    Activity: Client participates in subject training course (written, video or live).

  • Activity: Client participates in subject training course (written, video or live).

  • Measure: Client demonstrates the ability to create and maintain a budget.

  • Evaluation: Staff monitors practical assessment activity, ongoing budget activities, and signs off upon completion.

Banking: Using bank accounts, making deposits and withdrawals. Start a savings account.

  • Goal: Client gains knowledge of banking services and products, opens an account and maintains it for specified time period.

  • Activity: Client participates in subject training course, opens a bank account (if applicable) or, can demonstrate the ability to do so.

  • Measure: Client completes assessment and provides proof of an open bank account.

  • Evaluation: Staff signs off on completed assessment and acknowledges proof of open bank account.

Credit: Understanding credit scores, the risks and benefits of credit cards, and how to use them responsibly.

  • Goal: Client gains the ability to

  • Activity: Client participates in subject training course (written, video or live).

  • Measure: Client demonstrates the ability to

  • Evaluation: Staff signs off on completed assessment.

Bill Payment: Managing and paying bills on time, understanding the impact of late payments.

  • Goal: Client gains the ability to

  • Activity: Client participates in subject training course (written, video or live).

  • Measure: Client demonstrates the ability to

  • Evaluation: Staff signs off on completed assessment

Insurance: Importance, types, and maintaining.

  • Goal: Client gains the ability to

  • Activity: Client participates in subject training course (written, video or live).

  • Measure: Client demonstrates the ability to

  • Evaluation: Staff signs off on completed assessment.

4. Resource Information

Transportation: planning routes, understanding schedules,  fares, and using GPS services.

  • Goal: Client gains the ability to

  • Activity: Client participates in subject training course (written, video or live).

  • Measure: Client demonstrates the ability to

  • Evaluation: Staff signs off on completed assessment

Housing and Financial: Knowledge of 211 and local community resources.

  • Goal: Client gains the ability to

  • Activity: Client participates in subject training course (written, video or live).

  • Measure: Client demonstrates the ability to

  • Evaluation: Staff signs off on completed assessment

Medical and Emergency: Knowledge of 911 and  non emergency medical resources.

  • Goal: Client gains the ability to

  • Activity: Client participates in subject training course (written, video or live).

  • Measure: Client demonstrates the ability to

  • Evaluation: Staff signs off on completed assessment

5. Social and Communication Skills

Relationship building Developing healthy relationships and effective communication.

  • Goal: Client gains the ability to

  • Activity: Client participates in subject training course (written, video or live).

  • Measure: Client demonstrates the ability to

  • Evaluation: Staff signs off on completed assessment

Conflict resolution: Problem-solving and resolving interpersonal conflicts.

  • Goal: Client gains the ability to

  • Activity: Client participates in subject training course (written, video or live).

  • Measure: Client demonstrates the ability to

  • Evaluation: Staff signs off on completed assessment

Community involvement: Engaging in volunteer work and participating in community activities.

  • Goal: Client gains the ability to

  • Activity: Client participates in subject training course (written, video or live).

  • Measure: Client demonstrates the ability to

  • Evaluation: Staff signs off on completed assessment

6. Employment Readiness

Job-seeking skills: Resume writing, job searching, and interviewing techniques.

  • Goal: Client gains the ability to

  • Activity: Client participates in subject training course (written, video or live).

  • Measure: Client demonstrates the ability to

  • Evaluation: Staff signs off on completed assessment

Workplace etiquette: Understanding workplace culture and expectations.

  • Goal: Client gains the ability to

  • Activity: Client participates in subject training course (written, video or live).

  • Measure: Client demonstrates the ability to

  • Evaluation: Staff signs off on completed assessment

Time management: Balancing work and personal life.

  • Goal: Client gains the ability to

  • Activity: Client participates in subject training course (written, video or live).

  • Measure: Client demonstrates the ability to

  • Evaluation: Staff signs off on completed assessment

7. Emergency and Safety Skills

Emergency procedures: Knowing when and how to contact emergency services.

  • Goal: Client gains the ability to

  • Activity: Client participates in subject training course (written, video or live).

  • Measure: Client demonstrates the ability to

  • Evaluation: Staff signs off on completed assessment

Home safety: Preventing accidents and understanding fire safety.

  • Goal: Client gains the ability to

  • Activity: Client participates in subject training course (written, video or live).

  • Measure: Client demonstrates the ability to

  • Evaluation: Staff signs off on completed assessment

Personal safety: Recognizing and avoiding dangerous situations.

  • Goal: Client gains the ability to

  • Activity: Client participates in subject training course (written, video or live).

  • Measure: Client demonstrates the ability to

  • Evaluation: Staff signs off on completed assessment

8. Social and Emotional Wellness

Stress management: Techniques for managing stress, including relaxation exercises and coping strategies.

  • Goal: Client gains the ability to

  • Activity: Client participates in subject training course (written, video or live).

  • Measure: Client demonstrates the ability to

  • Evaluation: Staff signs off on completed assessment

Mental health awareness: recognizing signs of mental health issues and knowing when to seek help.

  • Goal: Client gains the ability to

  • Activity: Client participates in subject training course (written, video or live).

  • Measure: Client demonstrates the ability to

  • Evaluation: Staff signs off on completed assessment

Self-care practices: Importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance and engaging in activities that promote well-being.

  • Goal: Client gains the ability to

  • Activity: Client participates in subject training course (written, video or live).

  • Measure: Client demonstrates the ability to

  • Evaluation: Staff signs off on completed assessment

Positive thinking: Approaches to developing a positive mindset and building resilience.

  • Goal: Client gains the ability to

  • Activity: Client participates in subject training course (written, video or live).

  • Measure: Client demonstrates the ability to

  • Evaluation: Staff signs off on completed assessment

(Curriculum G.A.M.E. goals by D. Jackson c. 2024)

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