There is a much longer story behind this----if members are interested I
can fill them in. We started this entire initiative in 1990 with the
first TC program; it was tremendously successful
(http://www.amityfdn.org/Library/index.php?dir=News+Articles+%26+Profess
ional+Publications%2F )
But, unfortunately, over the past few years the Department of
Corrections has failed to provide the conditions for TCs to be
effective.
There is currently an effort to "reform" the Department and support
programs. We'll have to see how that works out.
Rod Mullen, CEO, Amity Foundation
-----Original Message-----
From: Therapeutic Communities
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Craig Fees
Sent: Monday, September 10, 2007 12:22 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [EFTC] Audit of California prison TC programs
An interesting Audit Report from the Inspector General of California
http://www.oig.ca.gov/reports/pdf/bai_qtr_jan_mar07.pdf
Snip:
The Office of the Inspector General found from its review that there
were a
multitude of reasons to explain the failure of the programs, nearly all
of
which begin and end with poor management by the Department of
Corrections and
Rehabilitation and the Office of Substance Abuse Programs. One central
finding
is that even though the contracts between the state and the in-prison
providers require contractors to use the "therapeutic community"
substance
abuse treatment model, the Office of Substance Abuse Programs not only
fails
to hold providers accountable for fulfilling that requirement, but also
fails
to create the conditions that would allow the therapeutic community
model to
operate. The Office of the Inspector General found the following
specific
examples of shortcomings in the delivery of the therapeutic community
model:
* Participants share yards and other prison facilities even though
separation
of program participants from other prison inmates is an essential
feature of
the therapeutic community model.
* Programs have been placed in facilities subject to either frequent or
long-term lockdowns of all or a large percentage of program
participants.
* Contractors are not providing the required minimum of 20 hours per
week of
faceto-face group and individual activities and access to six additional
hours
per week of optional activities, and they are not scheduling activities
the
required six days per week.
* Intensive group counseling is an essential component of the
therapeutic
community model, yet contracts with providers do not specify how many of
the
weekly program hours should be devoted to encounter group sessions.
* Contractors are not maintaining the required 18:1 ratio of
participants to
counselors to provide intensive group counseling.
(etc)
*************************
Dr. Craig Fees
Institute for the History and Work of Therapeutic Environments
"Designated a Research and Study Centre of the University of Birmingham"
Web-site: http://www.ihwte.org.uk
Phone: 44 (0) 1242 620125
Surface address:
Planned Environment Therapy Trust Archive and Study Centre
Church Lane
Toddington
Cheltenham
Glos GL54 5DQ
United Kingdom
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