The Jed Foundation Launches Set To Go, An Initiative To Help Students Transition To Life After High School

New emotional health resource focused on college prep for teens, families and high school educators

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Apr 27, 2017, 14:24 ET

NEW YORK, April 27, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Jed Foundation (JED) today announced the launch of a new initiative, Set to Go, to help prepare and guide teenagers through the transition from high school to college and beyond. The program was created based on results of a recent online national survey, "First-Year College Experience", that showed that while emotional preparedness* is a major element of students' success in their first year of college, the majority (60%) of first-year students do not feel emotionally equipped for the transition.

"The transition to life after high school is a critical period for teens and young adults in establishing the emotional foundation needed to flourish into adulthood," said John MacPhee, JED Chief Executive Officer. "Unfortunately, much of the work currently being done to prepare students for this transition is focused solely on academics and career readiness, rather than emotional well-being, independent living and resilience. Set to Go is intended to help fill this gap with information and resources to enhance emotional readiness for students approaching this important milestone."

Set to Go offers a comprehensive online resource, www.SettoGo.org, based on a new framework of five key areas of knowledge and skill development that comprise emotional preparedness. Students, families and high school educators can use this resource as a guide to college readiness at different points throughout the college application, selection and enrollment journey. The Set to Go framework includes the following domains:

College in Perspective walks the reader through the value of a college education, the importance of keeping the whole application and selection process in perspective, and what to consider when finding the best emotional and social college fit.

Basic Life Skills provides guidance for managing physical and emotional health, finances, personal time, belongings and more.

Social and Emotional Skills addresses how to manage emotions, set and achieve goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships and make responsible decisions.

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Literacy offers an overview of the emotional problems that become more prevalent during the late teen and young adult years and how to seek help when issues emerge.

The Transition to College Life explores common transition and adjustment concerns that young people face during the shift from high school to college.

The resources include a variety of unique, customized tools for students, families and educators such as a Right Fit Worksheet to help students assess the social and emotional "fit" of each school they are considering and a Transition of Care Guide outlining steps students with pre-existing mental health conditions can take to manage the transition of their care.

For more information and to access the tools available as part of the Set to Go program, visit www.SettoGo.org.

To learn more about the "First-Year College Experience" Survey and results, visit www.SettoGo.org/research.

About JED
JED is a nonprofit that exists to protect emotional health and prevent suicide for our nation's teens and young adults. We're partnering with high schools and colleges to strengthen their mental health, substance abuse and suicide prevention programs and systems. We're equipping teens and young adults with the skills and knowledge to help themselves and each other. We're encouraging community awareness, understanding and action for young adult mental health.

Learn more at jedfoundation.org. Check out our programs including: JED Campus (jedcampus.org), Set to Go (settogo.org), ULifeline (ulifeline.org), Half of Us (halfofus.com) and Love is Louder (loveislouder.com).

Connect with JED on social media: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn

* Emotional preparedness is defined here as the ability to take care of oneself, adapt to new environments, control negative emotions and/or behavior and build positive relationships.
** Compared to students who said they felt more emotionally prepared for college than their peers

Media Contact
Andrea Morgan
Makovsky for The Jed Foundation
917-213-5506
[email protected]

Alex Petti
Makovsky for The Jed Foundation
201-978-4882
[email protected]

SOURCE The Jed Foundation