As a Chicago-based Transitional Living Community for young adult students attending college, vocational programs, certificate programs, and other post-secondary solutions, one year into the COVID health crisis, EDGE clients and the EDGE program have continued to thrive.

It has been the continued community engagement at EDGE that has allowed both the young adult clients and program to thrive during COVID with all students and EDGE life coaches quarantining together living on-site. Executive Director of EDGE Programs, David Ventrelle, Psy.D, affirms, “Having the community at their disposal has been greatly beneficial for them. For many COVID has been isolating, but EDGE students were able to continue being around other people and experience social engagement.” Clients came together and experienced safe activities with one another such as playing board games and movie nights while continuing regularly scheduled activities including cooking/nutrition activities, mental health roundtables, financial literacy classes in addition to mindfulness and physical activities.

Program Director Jack Flight, LCSW, RDDP, CSOTS, states “Even though the students have always cared for one another, during this COVID crisis they have really come together to take appropriate precautions to protect each other from the virus. The students are conscious and aware of their own need to follow precautions when they’re out of the building in order to maintain safety for one another plus the professionals that work and live here. For some individuals, it is a big move from being self-centered to then looking outward for the needs of others.” With social wellness being a crucial element of the Seven Dimensions of Wellness framework practiced at EDGE, these expectations have continued to develop the students’ understanding of their roles when living in a community and help maintain realistic and healthy expectations for the roles of others. EDGE has continued to evaluate how major life disruptions, such as COVID, have affected the wellness and life skills of our students and will continue to implement new techniques to our Seven Dimensions of Wellness framework to best serve our clients.

When reflecting on the past year, it has truly been the connectedness and overall support of the EDGE community that has allowed all of us to thrive. EDGE will and has always been committed to creating pathways for success in the lives of our students—not even a global pandemic could change that.

About EDGE Learning and Wellness Collegiate Community

EDGE Learning and Wellness Collegiate Community is an accredited transitional living program located in Chicago, IL. EDGE offers therapeutically supported residential and non-residential options for post-treatment young adults. The participants, ages 18 -24, are striving to excel academically while creating a life of balance, joy and wellness.

To learn more about EDGE contact: info@edgelearningcommunity.com