Catalyst Life Skills

The first thing you’ll need to do is complete a New Member Interest Form, then we will schedule an orientation to get to know you. After that, you’ll meet with the Catalyst Program Supervisor and we will go through a skills-based questionnaire and a 2-day free trial to assess if Catalyst is a good fit.

Catalyst runs from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. The morning starts with an icebreaker or warm-up activity, followed by a skill-building activity based on the session’s topic. Members will plan, shop for, and prepare their lunch together and assist with the clean-up. In the afternoon, we shift to a more re-energizing phase, which includes fitness sessions in the gym and group games with music. Each week, there is an assignment of “homework” to members, along with a preview of what’s coming up during the next session.

Catalyst is a tuition-based model with scheduled program closures factored into the monthly rate.

There are multiple ways to schedule your Catalyst week. All options require a 6-month commitment.

Schedule 1: Monday, Wednesday, Friday – 10am – 3pm $1,605/month
Schedule 2: Tuesday, Thursday – 10am – 3pm $1,070/month
Schedule 3: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 10am-3pm $1,605/month
Schedule 4: Monday, Wednesday 10am-3pm $1,070/month

Financial aid is available.

If you are running late to drop off in the morning or pick up in the afternoon, please contact the Catalyst Program Supervisor. You can call, text, or email. The contact information will be shared with you when you register for the program. If you are later than 15 minutes when picking up the member, you will be charged $25 for the first 15 minutes and then an additional $25 for each 15-minute increment that you are late. This will go into effect after the 3rd time in a month that there is a late pickup past 15 minutes, for the member.

We strive to accommodate the needs of our members and will do our best to meet requests. Please let us know if you have food allergies or are on a restrictive diet. In some cases, it may be difficult to ensure special menu choices, as lunch will be made and served family style. Members are welcome to bring their own snacks or allergy-safe items. We will be serving water during lunch; you are welcome to bring your preferred beverage instead. Please note that we cannot adjust program fees for food substitutions.

The main focus of Catalyst is to work on enhancing a member’s independence in life skills-money management, housekeeping, meal planning and preparation, problem solving, community resources, etc. This will prepare members to meet their goals and live more independently at CEL, in the community, and at home.

REACH incorporates some life skill building activities but is designed to provide a variety of activities and experiences including arts, fitness, and recreational excursions. REACH members are generally out in the community about 70% of the time they are in the program. They go to museums, volunteer, dine at restaurants, etc. While Catalyst members will spend time in the community, the focus will be on introducing the members to the available resources that one might use, such as the bank, library, or grocery store.