GROW a programme to enable transitioning to community living

Pamela Wener is an Associate Professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy at the University of Manitoba; Wanda Snow is a PhD student; Joanna Quanbury is an Occupational Therapist; and Gary Altman is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Manitoba and Medical Director of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Program at St Boniface General Hospital, Winnipeg, Manitoba. In this paper, they argue that whilst there is a great need for well-planned transition programmes, research suggests that few such programmes exist. In particular, descriptions of programmes using a person-centred or familycentred approach are rarely seen in the literature. Their paper describes the conception, development and implementation phases of the Gaining Resources Our Way (GROW) programme which is a two-week, residential, life skills programme for young adults with developmental and cognitive disorders who are beginning to prepare for the transition to the community. This uses a combination of person-centred and family-centred approaches. Numerous stakeholders and much volunteer time were critical to the realisation of the programme. They conclude that with vision, partnership and collaboration, innovative programming such as, Gaining Resources Our Way, can fill a gap in services available to young adults. For readers in the UK and elsewhere, it will be of interest to consider whether such a model might be translated into other contexts outside of Canada.