Switch 2 Adulting Hamilton County

🌟 New Work-Based Learning Rotations! 🌟

SWITCH2Adulting interns have started new job placements this rotation, and we’re excited to see them applying their workplace skills in new environments!

💼 Interns are now working at YMCA Food & Fun and Battle Academy, building experience, confidence, and professionalism in real-world settings.

🥞 We’ve also had some fun along the way — flipping pancakes together and enjoying time in the community exploring Coolidge Park!

Our interns continue to grow in independence, teamwork, and work readiness every week. We’re proud of their hard work!

☕️ Community-Based Instruction in Action! ☕️

Over the past few weeks, our SWITCH2Adulting interns have been strengthening real-world skills through hands-on community experiences.

🍫 We visited The Hot Chocolatier, where interns practiced budgeting, ordering independently, and using strong social skills in a public setting.

🗺️ This week, we took it a step further by building navigation skills. Interns used Google Maps, reviewed a business’s Google profile and website, selected a coffee shop, and navigated there as a group. Once there, they practiced budgeting, ordering, and professional communication.

Each experience builds confidence in decision-making, independence, and community awareness — skills that are a part of everyday adult life.

We’re proud of how our interns continue stepping outside their comfort zones and growing every week!

🏆 Volunteers of the Month – January 🏆

The SWITCH2Adulting interns were honored to be named Volunteer of the Month at the Chattanooga Area Food Bank!

Our interns volunteer at the Food Bank four mornings each week, where they build employability skills by sorting donations, assembling Sack Packs, preparing inventory, and supporting warehouse operations. Most importantly, they learn what it means to be dependable teammates and contributing members of their community.

We are incredibly proud of the dedication, positive attitudes, and strong work ethic our interns demonstrate every time they step into the warehouse.

A special thank you to the Chattanooga Area Food Bank for providing meaningful opportunities for our interns to grow their workplace and independence skills. We are grateful to work alongside your staff and volunteers to help accomplish the Food Bank’s mission of serving our community.

Congratulations to our interns on this well-deserved recognition! 👏

💪 This Week at the Food Bank 💪

This week, our SWITCH2Adulting interns worked together to sort food donations into their proper categories and helped set up the warehouse for an upcoming event. Teamwork, organization, and strong work ethic were on full display!

The Food Bank staff call us the A-Team — and our interns definitely earn that title every time they show up ready to work! ⭐

🥣🛒 Back to Adulting at SWITCH2Adulting! 🛒🥣

We’re back from winter break and jumping right back into adulting!
On Friday, interns practiced real-life skills by creating a grocery list for a quesadilla recipe, then headed to Food City to shop for ingredients.

🌮 After returning to SWITCH, we cooked our quesadillas together and enjoyed the fruits of our labor as a team — practicing planning, budgeting, cooking, and teamwork along the way.

A great start to the new year, full of learning, independence, and hands-on experiences!

🎄 December at SWITCH2Adulting 🎄

🤝 Giving Back to the Community
Over the past few weeks, S2A interns have been learning how adults give back during the holiday season. This week, our interns volunteered at Battle Academy, where they assisted teachers during Pre-K and Kindergarten station time, helped wrap Christmas gifts, supported school cleanup, and led activities in 2nd grade. Their teamwork, flexibility, and professionalism were on full display.

📚 Preparing to Serve
Leading up to this experience, interns prepared by creating ornament kits, checking out winter-themed books from the library, and practicing reading aloud to elementary students — building confidence and communication skills.

🎁 Holiday Life Skills & Community Experiences
Interns also practiced real-world skills by going Christmas shopping for their families, navigating stores, and enjoying the Christmas tree displays at Miller Plaza.

🎉 Celebrating Together
We wrapped up the season with a holiday celebration, working in teams to build gingerbread houses, practice collaboration, and enjoy time together.

We are proud of the growth, kindness, and effort our interns continue to show — especially during this season of giving.

🌟 S2A Update! 🌟
Our interns have been busy learning, working, and exploring their community these past few weeks!

💼 Workplace Skills at the Food Bank
Monday through Thursday, our SWITCH2Adulting interns continue to make steady progress in their job skills while volunteering at the Chattanooga Area Food Bank. They’ve been giving back through hard work, teamwork, and dedication — directly supporting the Food Bank’s mission.
Our interns are also building independence by learning how to take initiative, restock supplies, and safely use workplace tools like box cutters.

🏙️ Community-Based Instruction
📚 We took a tour of the Chattanooga Library, explored the resources available, and signed up for library cards.
🛍️ We visited Warehouse Row, practicing how to navigate a shopping center by using store directories and Google Maps.
🎄 We made a stop at Miller Plaza to enjoy the Christmas tree displays and take in the festive atmosphere downtown.

🧠 Skills in the Training Room
In the training room, we’ve been building essential independence and executive functioning skills, including:
• Time management
• Task initiation
• Managing emotions
• Healthy lifestyle choices

Our interns continue to grow in confidence, independence, and professionalism every single week!

🌟 It’s been a busy and exciting few weeks at S2A! 🌟

💼 Our interns have been putting professionalism into practice during their work placements at the Food Bank — demonstrating workplace behavior, teamwork, and responsibility.

🗣️ In the training room, we’ve focused on building self-advocacy and confidence, helping students take ownership of their goals and communication on the job. We also learned about how adults celebrate holidays in the workplace, including how to conduct yourself at workplace events like Halloween parties and what makes a work-appropriate costume! 🎃👔

🌳 On Fridays, we take learning into the community!
🏋️ Last week, we visited Warner Park to explore the public outdoor workout equipment and learn how to use free community resources to support healthy lifestyles and daily exercise.
🐾 This week, we took a trip to the Chattanooga Zoo, where we discovered volunteer opportunities and heard from two amazing interns from the Transition2Work program. They shared how volunteering builds transferable job skills and the importance of treating volunteer work just like a paid position.

📸 Our interns are working hard, learning every day, and continuing to grow into confident, independent young adults!

🌟 Student Spotlight: Casey Curtin 🌟

Casey is in his second year with SWITCH2Adulting!

💼 He’s putting his learning into action through Work-Based Learning at both the Food Bank and the Fitness Center.

🙌 Over the past year, Casey has shown incredible growth in his independence and self-advocacy skills.

✨ Organized, hardworking, and dedicated — Casey is a shining example of what it means to be workplace ready!

We’re so proud of you, Casey! 👏👏

🛒 Our SWITCH2Adulting interns took their learning out into the community this week!
✨ During a community-based instruction trip to Publix, students completed a scavenger hunt for grocery items while practicing how to stay within a set budget.
🥫 Back at the Food Bank, our interns continued making a real impact while strengthening their workplace skills.
💼 In the training room, we focused on job skills practice, plus lessons on self-advocacy and workplace communication — key tools for independence and success.
📸 We’re so proud of the growth and determination our interns are showing every single day!

🎉 We’re back for the 2025–2026 academic year! 🎉
The SWITCH2Adulting interns hit the ground running in August, and we’re already making incredible memories!

👥 This year brings a mix of familiar faces and exciting new ones to the S2A family.
💼 We’ve been diving into professional workplace behaviors, exploring what it means to be an adult, and jumping back into our partnership with the Food Bank.

📸 Just look at the amazing experiences our interns are already having — and we’re just getting started!