Aftercare programs are some essential resources for youth recovering from substance use disorders. Enrolling in an aftercare program is one of the best ways parents can support their loved ones while utilizing existing community resources. If you’re interested in aftercare programs that encourage academic success, here are a few reasons why they matter on your loved one’s journey toward sobriety.
Academic Aftercare Programs Provide Structure, Normalcy, and Accountability
Substance use disorder can be all-consuming, and it can be difficult for young adults to readjust to life without drugs or alcohol. Unfortunately, it’s estimated that 40% to 60% of people relapse after initial treatment, which is why aftercare programs are so important.
While in an aftercare program, your loved one will have access to resources like:
- What is Sober Living?
Individual therapy
Group therapy
These programs provide structure and normalcy and can help your loved one readjust to life without drugs or alcohol. For instance, many sober living homes and outpatient treatment programs have a schedule of chores, classes, and even homework assignments that can provide a sense of normalcy and structure for your teen. This routine, incorporated with academic support, can help your child feel like they are a part of something again and boost their self-esteem.
Having a sense of normalcy through their sobriety can help reduce anxiety and make it just a little easier to continue with treatment. In addition, incorporating academic goals can help your teen feel like they’re working toward a worthwhile goal, which can be motivating.
The community within sober living programs provides an element of accountability not only for the individual’s success in their recovery but for the individual’s success in academics as well. Support and accountability therein from one’s own peers are very effective in bolstering one’s recovery and academic trajectory by being held to a higher standard.
Aftercare Programs Help Youths Manage Stress
Recovery is stressful, and a lot of challenges often accompany it. For instance, as many as 1.1 million people with addiction reported being arrested in 2019, showing just how important it is for older youth and teens to access resources that can help manage legal issues and academic success all at once. Repairing your life after addiction can be stressful, if not impossible without the proper programming and support that addresses the unique challenges of teens and young adults in substance abuse recovery.
Fortunately, there are aftercare programs that focus on academics and are solution-focused to help yound adults manage stress by providing a sense of stability and achievement. Furthermore, some programs offer financial and legal assistance to give prospective students the opportunity to attend school and pay off legal fees or other debts. These programs can also help connect students with resources like food assistance and healthcare.
In addition to providing financial and legal assistance, academic aftercare programs also offer counseling services to help your child manage stress. Counselors can provide individualized support that helps your teen identify healthy coping mechanisms and work through difficult emotions. This type of support is crucial for recovery and can be part of a program tailored to fit your teen’s needs. For instance, if your teen is struggling with anxiety or depression, they may benefit from therapy or medication, which can help them achieve better academic success. If they’re having difficulty adjusting to a sober lifestyle, they may appreciate having a support group to turn to.
These initiatives in academic aftercare programs can help youth manage stress levels that could lead to relapse and feel supported as they work to recover from addiction.
Academic Aftercare Programs Encourage Young Adults to Set and Achieve Goals
Academic aftercare programs can help your teen manage their time and set realistic goals, which can be especially helpful if your teen is trying to balance school with a job and family responsibilities.
These programs can help your teen achieve their goals by providing support and connecting them to academic resources. For instance, if your teen is trying to get into college, the program can help them navigate the application process and prepare them for interviews to improve their chances of acceptance.
If your teen is already in college, they can help them stay on track and achieve their degree. These programs can provide tutoring and other resources to help your teen succeed in their classes.
Aftercare programs focusing on academics can also help your teen set goals for their future career. For instance, if your teen is interested in a particular career, an aftercare program can help them research colleges, internships, and job opportunities. These programs can also help your teen develop a resume and cover letter and provide advice on interviewing and other important aspects of the job search process.
Provide Academic Support and Peer Support
Imagine being a teen without coping skills or falling behind on your schoolwork. Without substances, how will you deal with the pressure? This dilemma is where an aftercare program comes in to provide guidance and support.
Aftercare programs can connect your loved one with peers struggling with similar issues, such as those in a sober living home. It can be helpful for young adults to have a support system made up of people who understand what they’re going through. These peer relationships can provide motivation and accountability as your loved one continues their recovery journey. Certain studies have shown that having a peer support group can help:
Reduce substance abuse
Improve engagement in aftercare and sobriety
Improve substance-related outcomes
These benefits are critical for young adults in recovery to continue to engage in treatment and academic studies. While you might think having friends and family is enough support, it’s important to remember that they might not always understand what your child is going through. That’s why having a peer support group whom they can relate with in addition to family and friends can be so beneficial.
Academic Success in Aftercare Programs
Some programs can provide your teen with the resources they need to succeed academically. For instance, these programs can connect your teen with tutors, counselors, and other professionals who can help them overcome any challenges they face.
These programs can also give your teen access to essential resources, such as books, computers, and educational software. In addition, academic aftercare programs can help your teen find scholarships and other financial aid opportunities.
Unfortunately, many teens might be first-generation college students and might not have anyone in their family who can help them navigate the college process. That’s another area where academic aftercare programs can be beneficial. These programs can give your teen the support they need to succeed in school and their recovery journey.
Encourage and Motivate
Best of all, academic programs motivate your teen to complete their academic goals and can help them develop a positive attitude towards their future.
Motivation is critical for success in addiction recovery by helping your loved one:
Seek treatment
Comply with treatment
Create long-term goals and positive changes
Engage in aftercare programs
Achieve sustained sobriety
All of these factors can help your teen do what it takes to get sober and continue to improve their lives, one small step at a time. If you need to provide your loved one with motivation for the future, consider utilizing aftercare support interventions so your teen can stay on track and achieve their goals.
How to Choose the Best Academic Aftercare Program
When choosing the best aftercare program, look for one that offers a variety of resources to support your loved one’s academic success. These programs should also be tailored to meet the unique needs of each student. Below are some things to look for in an academic aftercare support program.
Provides Mental Health Counseling
While it’s important to have academic resources in these aftercare services, such programs should also incorporate mental health counseling such as:
Solution-focused brief therapy, which can help vulnerable youth at risk of relapse develop a treatment plan for the future
Cognitive behavioral therapy can help young people fix distorted ways of thinking
Medication management for children and youth to help them learn how to manage medication for sobriety
Individual or group-based intervention is designed to help your loved ones express themselves and talk openly about their struggles
All of these existing services can help your loved one manage mental health issues and sobriety all at once.
Academic Support and Tutoring
If your loved one wants to pursue postsecondary education or has other educational goals, look for a program that can help provide the appropriate tutoring. For example, some students may need help with test-taking skills, while others may need assistance writing essays. Choose an aftercare program that can offer the resources your loved one needs to succeed.
Success Stories
It’s crucial to find a program that encourages success and helps young people achieve their hopes and dreams, whether the program emphasizes vocational training or other aftercare support models. It’s also essential to find an aftercare program that has a good track record of helping students graduate on time. Ask about the program’s graduation rates and whether or not they offer job placement assistance.
Support for Foster Youth
If your loved one was in the foster system, there are certain programs geared towards transition-aged youth. These programs can give your teen the support they need to transition to adulthood successfully. Unfortunately, such youth in foster care might have had a negative upbringing, making it crucial to improve their self-worth and hope for the future through programs geared toward helping this demographic specifically. A transitional living program with a record of success for youth in the foster care system and that has helped others in their educational attainment can ensure your teen’s success in their future careers.
Research Academic Aftercare Programs Today
Nothing is better than having a loved one overcome addiction and achieve higher education. If you need help choosing a program, consider visiting New Life House for help. Our sober living home offers vocational training and educational programs while paying considerable attention to your loved ones and their future success and sobriety.
Last Updated on September 10, 2024
