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You Gotta Start Somewhere - A Chemical Intervention Program Planner for Correctional Facilities - A Systematic Response to Chemical Use Problems

NCJ Number
95577
Date Published
Unknown
Length
33 pages
Annotation
Based on a Minnesota model treatment program for incarcerated substance abusers, this planning guide describes the project and provides a framework for using criminal justice resources to implement chemical intervention projects.
Abstract
Begun in a minimum security facility for male juveniles, this three-part process, involving ground work, building a team, and formulating an action plan, focuses on enabling correctional institutions to clarify their responses to inmate chemical abuse. Other goals include providing screening, treatment planning, and referral services as well as improving the effectiveness of prevention and intervention programs. The ground work stage involves defining the abuse problem, exploring intervention options, outlining the project, developing the contract and work plan, and implementing a formal contract among staff to proceed with the project. A program evaluation and review technique (PERT) is also designed at this stage. During the team-building stage, 7-10 staff conduct a comprehensive needs assessment and write on the project's progress to circulate among the staff. The core team can collect data through interviews, case file reviews, surveys and questionnaires, and values clarification exercises. By the time the action plan stage is reached, both staff and residents should realize that a careful and strongly supported effort to analyze the need for change is underway. Trainers, such as consultants and outside chemical health specialists, guide staff at all stages and are especially helpful in drafting the action plan because of their objectivity. An organization chart, an evaluation checklist, and three footnotes are included.