Assessment
The staff will administer a variety of assessments in order to establish a foundation on which to begin appropriate treatment. Following these assessments, an Individualized Program Components Contract (IPCC) is created that defines the components of LDRC programming in which a client is expected to participate. The IPCC is a contract between the client and the LDRC that lists programming requirements and documents the LDRC’s process of explaining the treatment and the treatment scheduled. Treatment begins after the IPCC is signed.
Treatment Services
If the client’s offense is related to alcohol or drug use or if their assessment indicates substance abuse or dependence, they will be required to participate in substance abuse treatment, including community support groups such as AA and NA meetings. They are required to participate in appropriate treatment and education groups in which they have been placed, including any off-site programming. Furthermore, the client is required to constructively engage on a daily basis in LDRC classes. Disability and health conditions that will interfere with their ability to fully participate in programming need to be documented and should be discussed with LDRC staff before signing the IPCC.
The client’s treatment will be positively impacted by their efforts to consistently pursue regular attendance and constructively participate in groups and activities, abstaining from drug/alcohol use, receiving negative drug test results and, in general, displaying a cooperative attitude.
Current groups provided include the following curriculum:
Relapse Prevention Group: The goal is to prevent relapse to alcohol and drug use and to criminal behaviors. This group is guided by “The Relapse Prevention Workbook for the Criminal Offender.” The first section of the workbook provides an overview of relapse prevention and its role in avoiding renewed problems with both substance abuse and criminal behaviors. The second section provides simplified self-assessment forms for substance abuse, criminal thinking and criminal behavior. The third section provides exercises for coping with warning signs before a return to substance abuse or criminal behaviors. The fourth, and last section, provides a step by step guide to the development of a recovery plan.
Alcohol and Other Drug Education: This group provides an in-depth education on drugs and alcohol and how they affect the client’s mental and physical well-being, the impact on families, identification of stressors, familiarization with various coping skills, developing healthy relationships, anger and communication, self-evaluation, and living without drugs and alcohol (these are a few of the many topics covered). Through the use of a workbook titled “Drug and Alcohol Education: Long-Term Workbook,” clients are guided into seeing the connection between drug and alcohol addiction and criminal activity.
Living In Balance (Moving from a Life of Addiction to a Life of Recovery): This group draws from cognitive, behavioral, and experiential treatment approaches with a strong emphasis on relapse prevention. The program uses didactic education and instruction, written exercises, group process interaction through role plays-plays and discussion, relaxation and visualization exercises, and group-oriented recreational therapy exercises. Addiction-related topics include relapse prevention, drug education, and self-help. There are also sessions that address physical health, psychosocial, and living skills that help clients be more successful in recovery by addressing all major areas of living.
Interactive Journaling®: Clients are given some time each week to work in their own workbook called My Personal Journal. Interactive Journaling® is an effective method for applying change and motivation strategies with clients. It is a guided, personal and permanent tool that clients can utilize to achieve their change goals.
Big Book / Basic Text Group: In this group the clients take turns reading out loud from the following books: Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of AA and the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of NA. This group is facilitated by a counselor who makes sure the passages are read and that the discussion following the reading is appropriate and focused on the material.
Batterer’s Intervention Prevention Program: Teaches clients to take responsibility for their actions and to learn communication skills so that personal conflicts are resolved non-violently. The BIPPs facilitator is provided by the YWCA-Wheeling Family Violence Prevention Program, which is the locally licensed domestic violence provider.
Helping Women Recover: A women’s group, facilitated by a female counselor, meets twice a week for one hour each session for seventeen sessions. The program utilizes a Facilitator’s Guide and a Women’s Journal, which is used by the clients in the program. This treatment program meets the following goals: (1) To provide a gender-specific treatment program for women who abuse alcohol and other drugs; (2) To integrate treatment of chemical dependency with issues of trauma recovery; and (3) To guide counselors, facilitators, clinicians, and others in the helping professions in helping addicted women to recover.
Release and Reintegration Group: A cognitive-behavioral treatment curriculum that is work-book based involving eight domains that are important to all offenders; (1) Criminal and Addictive Thinking, (2) Building a Foundation for Your Future, (3) Setting Housing Goals, (4) Setting Employment Goals, (5) Handling Money and Creating a Budget, (6) Living a Healthy Lifestyle: What it Takes, (7) Free Time and Leisure Activities, and (8) Your plan for Life After Release. This workbook will help the offender to set specific, realistic goals and plans for their new life in recovery.
Socialization Group: A cognitive-behavioral treatment curriculum that is workbook driven to guide the offender to track where they have been, how they got there, what works in their life, what does not work, and how to make changes in their life. They will also learn about how to have healthy relationships, manage their anger, and what impact their actions have on others. In essence, the offender will be given step-by-step instructions on how to change their thinking and behavior.
Criminal Conduct and Substance Abuse Treatment: Strategies for Self-Improvement and Change: This curriculum comes with a Providers Guide and a Client Workbook. This program was developed specifically for the substance abusing criminal offender population or more commonly referred to as the substance abusing offender. The curriculum is designed to deliver a long-term (nearly one year) intensive, cognitive-behavioral oriented treatment program to adult substance abusing offenders. The recommended client age is 18 years or above. The program is sensitive to the diverse needs across gender, race, culture and age.
Work4WV Career Center: Clients are referred to the Center for assessment of job development skills. A program is designed to meet the individual needs of each offender to prepare them for the workforce. The Center also provides assistance in finding employment or providing assistance in helping an offender enter college or a vocational skill. Financial assistance is provided.
Problem Gamblers Counseling: The LDRC works in conjunction with the WV Problem Gamblers Help Network to provide counseling to persons whose offense is related to problem gambling. As part of the assessment process, the LDRC administers a ten-question gambling questionnaire to all persons referred to the LDRC. If a gambling problem is indicated, then the LDRC makes a referral to an appropriate counselor.