Launching Emerging Adults Program (LEAP) is intended to provide a safe environment for participants to succeed by improving their overall level of functioning. LEAP incorporates a model that highlights participants as the primary person in determining their own path toward their launch into adulthood. LEAP is designed to empower participants through meaningful choice and self-determination on a path to achieve personalized educational, vocational, avocational, and housing goals. As a program offered through Rochester Public Schools, LEAP works collaboratively with community partners to provide a strong system of comprehensive learning, behavioral, and community support.

Transitioning to adulthood is hard, especially if jumping unprepared or without the necessary support. LEAP intentionally provides functional and emotional social skills, mental health services, education services, and community connections to prepare participants to launch with confidence and hope. With an emphasis on education, competitive employment, community connections, and housing, LEAP participants “launch” prepared to emerge as positive contributors to their families, communities, and society.

LEAP is designed to serve youth ages 16-21 with a desire to be active participant in personal goal identification and attainment in the transitional areas of education, employment, housing, and community engagement. With a focus on preparation for transition to adulthood, our target participant has Special Education needs that have not been met through traditional educational, rehabilitative programming. LEAP participant profile characteristics include truancy and attendance, mental health services, individual mental health and education planning, goal attainment action planning, collaborative social or justice system case planning, history of trauma, physical aggression, NME executive function score of 1.5 or lower, and/or chemical dependency. Potential participants must be students eligible for enrollment in Rochester Public Schools, have been identified as a student with an educational disability, be currently receiving Level 3 or 4 special education services, and are currently not successful in their current school setting.