Tier 1 - Social Foundations is the entry level of your Safe Connections program, focused on building the core skills participants need to safely and confidently interact with others.

What Tier 1 Teaches

  • Communication Skills – how to start conversations, listen, and respond appropriately

  • Personal Boundaries – understanding personal space, respect, and limits

  • Internet Safety – recognizing risks, safe online behavior, and protecting personal information

  • Dating Fundamentals – understanding appropriate ways to express interest, basic dating etiquette, recognizing healthy vs. unhealthy behaviors, and early awareness of consent

An infographic titled 'Safe Connections' by Indigo Professional Service (IPS) shows three steps: learn, connect, grow. It depicts a woman and a man on a video call for learning, a man and a woman practicing hands-on activity for connecting, and a woman and a man smiling and giving thumbs up for growing. Icons and captions emphasize building social skills, practicing real friendships, and developing healthy relationships within safe spaces.

Purpose

This tier creates a strong foundation for social success by helping participants:

  • Feel more comfortable engaging with peers

  • Understand safe vs. unsafe interactions

  • Build confidence before moving into dating and deeper relationships

Why It Matters

Tier 1 ensures participants are prepared, safe, and supported before advancing to higher-level relationship work, aligning with ISP goals around socialization and independence

Tier 2: Connection Labs builds on foundational skills and introduces participants to real-life relationship and connection dynamics, with a strong focus on safety, awareness, and emotional understanding.
Connection Labs are mini sessions designed to enhance foundational skills, allowing participants to practice, apply, and strengthen what they’ve learned in Tier 1 in a more interactive and real-world context.

A woman leading a discussion in a room with a diverse group of five young adults, some of whom are smiling and one raising her hand. On the wall, there's a large screen displaying different types of healthy relationships and a logo that reads 'Connection Labs' with puzzle piece icons.

What Tier 2 Teaches:

  • Consent & Boundaries in Connections – understanding yes/no, respecting limits, and personal rights

  • Healthy vs. Unhealthy Relationships – recognizing red flags, safe behaviors, and emotional safety

  • Rejection & Emotional Regulation – coping with “no,” managing feelings, and responding appropriately

  • Communication in Relationships – expressing feelings, needs, and expectations clearly

  • Social & Dating Etiquette – appropriate behavior, reading cues, and respectful interactions

  • Internet Safety in Connections – navigating online interactions safely and protecting personal information

  • “Have I Been Scammed?” Awareness – identifying manipulation, scams, catfishing, and exploitation

  • “It Doesn’t Feel Right” – When to Tell – trusting instincts, recognizing warning signs, and knowing when/how to report concerns

Purpose - This tier helps participants:

  • Build safe, meaningful connections with others

  • Strengthen and apply foundational skills in real scenarios

  • Develop confidence through guided, practice-based learning

Why It Matters - It ensures participants are not only learning how to connect—but how to practice safely, recognize risks, and build healthy relationships, while aligning with ISP goals around independence, safety, and community inclusion

Tier 3 focuses on real-world application—turning learned skills into everyday behavior, both in-person and online.

  • How to start and maintain conversations in real settings

  • How to read social cues (body language, tone, interest)

  • How to build and maintain friendships naturally

  • How to navigate dating situations safely

  • How to set and respect boundaries in real time

  • How to make independent social decisions

  • How to handle rejection, conflict, or uncomfortable moments appropriately

  • How to engage safely and appropriately on a structured social platform

The Purpose of Tier 3

The purpose of Tier 3 is to bridge the gap between learning and living—in today’s world, that includes both in-person and digital relationships.

It moves participants from:
➡️ “I understand social skills”
➡️ to “I can use them confidently—in real life and online.”

Why Tier 3 Matters

This is the transformation stage of the program.

Without Tier 3:

  • Skills remain theoretical

  • Online spaces can feel unsafe or confusing

  • Participants may struggle to apply what they’ve learned

With Tier 3:

  • ✅ Confidence becomes real and visible

  • ✅ Social skills become natural habits

  • ✅ Participants gain safe experience in both digital and real environments

  • ✅ Independence increases across modern social settings

  • ✅ Risk is reduced through guided, coach-supported practice

Tier 3 - Social Connections

Promotional graphic for Indigo Professional Service with a purple and green butterfly, a purple calendar background, and a Zoom call on a laptop screen showing four smiling people.

NEW: Guided Social Practice Platform (Virtual Experience)

A key part of Tier 3 is access to a structured online social platform, designed specifically for safe, supported interaction.

Participants will:

  • Practice real conversations in a moderated virtual space

  • Engage in guided group chats, activities, and discussion rooms

  • Receive live coaching, prompts, and feedback during interactions

  • Learn digital communication skills, online boundaries, and internet safety

  • Build comfort with socializing both virtually and in real life

Coach Role:

  • Facilitate conversations

  • Redirect when needed

  • Reinforce positive behaviors

  • Ensure a safe, respectful environment at all times

“At IPS, we don’t just teach social skills—
We create safe spaces where connection becomes real, practiced, and lasting.”

– Message from the CEO

Logo for Indigo Professional Service featuring the letters 'IPS' in purple and green with a purple and green butterfly.