| Turning Point Treatment Program |
|
|
 |
| Turning Point |
|
The Turning Point (TP) program is currently experiencing significant change. The program is moving from a 12 step based program to one that only uses evidence based curriculum and interventions.
Current and pending curriculum is all evidenced based, including:
- Addiction curriculum from "The Change Companies"
- Problem solving and role play curriculum from "Thinking for a Change"
- Cognitive therapy based on "Truthought Corrective Thinking process"and curriculum originating from the work of Yochelson, Samenow, Ellis and Beck.
- Transition curriculum from "The Change Companies"
Turning Point is in the process of combining a new electronic assessment tool with the Department of Corrections criminogenic assessment to target the identified criminogenic needs for each inmate entering the Turning Point program.
Turning Point houses fifty inmates, many dually diagnosed, participating in an intensive residential alcohol and drug treatment environment for six to nine months. Inmates do not need to discontinue their medication prior to coming to turning point.
Residents at Turning Point typically have the most severe addiction problems. These inmates typically do not meet requirements of other programs (such as the Alternative Incarceration Program) due to crimes etc.
The day starts at 4:30 AM for some and ends at 11:00 PM. The entire day is structured – The treatment day starts at 9:00 AM and ends at 9:00 PM.
Turning Point residents interact with general population inmates as little as possible to avoid regression.
Turning Point’s mission is to reduce recidivism by:
- Teaching problem solving skills through education, staff and peer role modeling and role play, and group and individual counseling.
- Assist inmates to practice holding themselves and others accountable, thereby increasing their ability to take responsibility for their actions.
- Cognitive/Behavioral therapy including opportunities to practice identifying and changing thinking errors.
- Initiate change talk and thinking that will move the individual through Pre-contemplation, Contemplation, Preparation, and Action.
- Assist inmates to gain relapse prevention skills.
- Assist inmates to transition back into their communities.
Turning Point uses a Therapeutic Community model in which cooperation and problem solving can take place while irresponsible behavior and negative thinking can be confronted. Feedback is received constantly during the inmates waking hours, thus it is an intense and powerful learning environment.
Residents actively participate in their treatment; they do not simply receive treatment. The expectation is that residents will function as decision making adults—despite their criminality and arrested development—and that they will act responsibly. Through a combination of peer support, group pressure, individual assignments, group and individual therapy, didactic groups, behavior contracts, staff modeling and intervention, a learning environment is created that can have an impact on promoting and producing behavior change.
The therapeutic community concept involves residents and staff participating jointly in governing and managing the unit. Because the community is housed within a minimum-security setting, safety and security of residents and staff is always the first priority. A basic expectation within any therapeutic community is that there will be safety, no alcohol or other drug use, no violence, and no sexual activity.
Therapeutic communities are well suited for offenders because:
- They were originally developed for difficult offender addicts with criminal histories.
- The goal is to reduce recidivism and set the stage for recovery efforts.
- The learning process is a better match with offenders’ learning styles.
- The criminal code is challenged.
- There is an emphasis on pro-social and marketable interpersonal skills, i.e., appropriate body language, problem-solving skills, confidence, assertiveness, increased self-awareness and self-care through learning to understand and follow community rules and guidelines.
Outside work crew assignments are part of treatment – they assist in developing occupational skills.
Additional information can be obtained by contacting:
Glen McArthur, LCSW, CADC I, CCFC
Turning Point Project Coordinator/Clinical Supervisor
9111 NE Sunderland Avenue
Portland, OR 97211
CRCI: 503-280-6646, ext. 245
OR
Maria Torres, BA, CADC II
Turning Point Program Manager
9111 NE Sunderland Avenue
Portland, OR 97211
CRCI: 503-280-6646, ext. 297
|
|
|
|
