A good principle will apply effectively and succesfully across a broad spectrum of cicumstances.  The leadership and staff of Q&A Associates understands and employes this principle.  “We apply the principle of “this client”, approaching each young adult as an individual rather than creating one program track and expecting all the individuals to be successful on that track,” said Keith Bishop, COO and Equine Professional.  With the small size of all three programs (Applewood Transitions for Young Women, Journey Transitions for Young Men and Cabin Mountain Living Center), the staff have the flexibility to truly individualize programming for “this client.” 

This principle has been learned and mastered by working with the horses of Saddles & Smiles (S&S).  “Most of the horses are rescues, so there is no way for us to really know their backgrounds or predict where they will be successful in our programming,” continued Bishop.  By working with “this horse”, each rescued equine finds a path to trusting relationships and meaningful work within the program.  While the horses share a lot of common traits, they will not successfully grow and perform unless their individual needs are taken into account.

The same principle is true for the young adult clients of Q&A.  While they share lots of common diagnoses, past experiences, failed attempts at independence, and family traumas, the only way for them to achieve their highest levels of independence is to have their individual needs addressed.  It takes a great team of dedicated and flexible staff to execute this individual approach.  Staff must be fluid enough to allow clients to try different approaches to life, to fail successfully, and continue to move forward.  By applying the principle of “this client”, the Q&A team can coach and challenge the young adults on their journeys to independence rather than setting them on a path of contrived outcomes that are not based on internal motivation or real life consequences.  “We strive to help each client become a creator in his or her life,” said Bishop, “If they always see themselves as victims of their diagnoses or personal circumstances, they will not see the world of possibilities in front of them or achieve personal success.”  

Whether working with “this horse” or “this client,” the individualized approach is proving to be the most effective path to personal success.  

About Q&A Family of Programs

Q&A Family of Programs works with young adults ages 18 and up, providing opportunities for each of them to develop independent, functional, and happy lives with a high level of quality. Our clients have struggled to reach independence for a variety of reasons such as the inability to develop and/or implement the life skills needed to be successful, or struggling to obtain consistent employment. Our goal is to help these individuals find meaning and an authentic purpose for their lives and a practical path to achieve their goals.