Following placement, staff will assess behavioral patterns for a period of at least thirty (30) days. While homesickness is understandable, it is essential to rendering effective supports, that the CONNECTIONS service team is able to assess the individual across a number of domains within the program setting. Understandable, during this period, overnight visits to family home are discouraged. The purpose of this assessment period is to attempt to discover:

• Learning Styles
• Daily Living Skill competency (ADLs)
• Personal Preferences (Likes & Dislikes)
• Affect/Mood Fluctuations by time of day and/or schedule (routines)
• Coping/Self-soothing Strategies
• Emerging Conflicts or Attachments within New Environment
• Sleeping/Eating Patterns
• Medication Effects & Side-effects