1) Pre-contemplation: The young person is not thinking about or has explicitly rejected change; 2) Contemplation: The young person is now thinking about change and perhaps seeks out a youth worker or some other program; she or he may respond to some suggestions from staff; 3) Planning: The young person and case manager talk about what it would take to make change happen and what the young person wants for the future; 4) Action: The young person begins to take positive steps toward improving his or her life through practice (trial and error) in the context of a plan that has been discussed in detail between the young person and case manager; and, 5) Sustaining: Through continuing staff support during difficult times and new cooperative efforts, the young person is able to achieve concrete improvements in his or her life, move demonstrably toward achieving a self-sustaining lifestyle, and is living in safety.