FY 23 Residential Substance Abuse Treatment for State Prisoners Program

Issue and Target Area/Population

An estimated 83% males and 90% females incarcerated in Connecticut have been assessed as needing substance use treatment, with the majority using alcohol, and more than a third using opiates. CT Department of Correction’s (CT DOC) Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) Program will target over a 12-month project period, male and female offenders, 18 years of age and older, diagnosed with alcohol and opiate use disorders.

Project Goals and Objectives

The goal of RSAT is maintaining, while enhancing, the State correctional system’s capabilities for jails and prisons to provide residential substance abuse treatment services that move Connecticut closer to meeting the overarching goal of RSAT – To break the cycle of drug use and violence by reducing the demand for, use, overdoses, and trafficking of illegal drugs.

2023 RSAT Goals and Objectives address: Support the CT DOC Addiction Treatment Unit’s (ATU) pre- and post-release voluntary use of medications for opioid use disorders (MOUD) administered by community treatment providers to incarcerated individuals diagnosed with alcohol and/or opioid use disorders; Prepare individuals for reintegration into communities statewide through the provision of Aftercare, case management, and reentry services; Promote recovery coaching to aid rehabilitation and overdose prevention, with objectives to 1) offer Therapeutic Treatment Recovery Coaching across facilities, and 2) increase Peer Recovery support with CT DOC Parole and Community Services halfway house providers and those offenders remanded to enter Cognitive Behavioral Treatment (CBT) Time Out Program (TOP). Lastly, develop knowledge through professional development for addiction counselors to maintain certification to deliver treatment services and educate addiction services staff on opioid use and combatting overdoses; and Ensure programs and treatment fidelity through evaluation.

Project Strategy

Fund contracts with one or more qualified community providers to deliver aftercare, case management, and reentry services and to provide recovery coaching, Conduct staff training and evaluation, funds permitting.

Partnerships

OPM will sub-award RSAT and non-federal matching funds to CT DOC for program implementation by Deputy Warden for Addiction Services/RSAT Project Director.

Major Deliverables

Major deliverables include aftercare services with case management minimum 50 men and women; recovery coaching within prison therapeutic communities minimum 100 men and women; recovery support specialist serve minimum 50 Time Out Program (TOP) participants and 50 CT DOC halfway house supervised offenders in Central Connecticut; CT DOC Addiction Treatment Unit staff to maintain certification and to attend professional development for Continuing Education Unit (CEU) credits; and educe overdose and recidivism rates.