Community Corrections offers many cognitive programs to help with reasoning and decision making. Programming is led in a group setting by people formally trained and receiving ongoing coaching.
The courses are proven to help meet individual goals and the goals of the group.
A supervision agent works with their client to determine which program will be the best fit.
Each program explores different topics and skills, but each program explores key ideas to change thinking patterns and behaviors that resulted in trouble. The programs also improve quality of life by helping participants learn new skills, assist in emotional regulation, and learning new ways to solve problems.
Offered programs
Decision Points
Decision Points is made up of skill training and practice focused on decision making. The program is built on the “Strategy of Choices" and offers participants alternative ways to examine their thinking and actions that lead into trouble. Decision Points is comprised of four steps:
- Identify my thoughts and feelings
- Think about others who care what I do
- Think about choices — pick one
- Identify a motivating thought
Participants must master each skill step prior to moving on to the next skill. Learned skills are shown through a combination of written exercise outside of the group and role playing while in group.
The length of this program is based on individual progress. This program is open ended and allows for continuous enrollment of new participants.
Decision Points takes place one time per week and is offered only to males. There is no cost for this program.
Driving With Care
Driving With Care is a 12-week, 24-hour program for people convicted of driving while under the influence of alcohol or illegal substances.
This program helps participants understand how problem behaviors are learned and how those behaviors become strengthened. Participants develop an understanding of how they got to the point of their impaired driving and how their own alcohol or drug use fits clinically identified patterns and cycles of substance use and misuse.
Participants develop strategies and skills to prevent future relapse and recidivism behavior.
Driving With Care takes place one time per week and is offered to both men and women. There is a no cost for this program, although participants will be responsible to purchase a program workbook.
Moving On
Moving On builds on participants' positive traits. This program designed specifically for women is organized into four main themes:
- Encouraging personal responsibility and enhancing motivation to change
- Expanding connections and building healthy relationships
- Skill enhancement and development
- Relaxation and stress management
Participants will be provided a supportive environment to explore their hopes and goals for the future so they can create a vision of success. They will also be introduced to strategies and skills that help them regulate their emotions and manage feelings such as anger, guilt and sadness.
This program takes place two times per week and is offered only to women. There is no cost for this program.
Thinking for a Change
Thinking for a Change is a 25-session program which combines cognitive restructuring, thinking skills and problem solving. This program is organized into three main themes:
- Cognitive Self Change: Participants go through a process of self-reflection to uncover antisocial thoughts, feelings, attitudes and beliefs. Participants are taught that thinking controls behavior and to change behavior, thinking must be changed.
- Social Skills: Participants engage in prosocial interactions based on self-understanding and awareness of the impact their actions have on others. Participants learn how to:
- Listen actively
- Ask questions
- Respond appropriately to other's anger
- Give feedback to others
- Communicate apologies effectively
- Negotiate
- Communicate a complaint effectively
- Understand the feelings of others
- Recognize one's feelings
- Problem Solving Skills: Participants combine the first two components to provide a step-by-step process for addressing challenging real life situations and conflict.
The program includes a combination of written exercises of each skill as well as role playing while in group.
This program takes place two times per week and is offered only to men. There is no cost for this program.
For more information, contact Shannon Olean, Community Corrections, at 651-554-6608.