2009 Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) Program

The Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Formula Grant Program (RSAT) assists states and local governments in developing and implementing substance abuse treatment programs in state and local correctional and detention facilities. The RSAT Program also assists states and local governments in creating and maintaining community-based aftercare services for offenders who are released from institutionally based substance abuse programs. Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Formula Grant funds may be used to implement three types of programs. At least 10 percent of the total state allocation for FY 2009 shall be made available to local correctional and detention facilities (provided such facilities exist) for either residential substance abuse treatment programs or jail-based substance abuse treatment programs as defined below.

Under the FY 09 Residential Substance Abuse Treatment program funds, the Vermont Department of Corrections(DOC) will continue to support the Vermont RSAT treatment program. The Vermont Department of Corrections currently operates one prison-based substance abuse treatment unit. The Discovery Program opened in March of 2002 as a 50-bed therapeutic community located at the Caledonia Community Work Camp in St. Johnsbury. The program uses the Therapeutic Community (TC) model as the preferred approach to the treatment of substance abuse disorders. Most offenders in the facility-based program are treated for substance abuse associated with alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, and opiates. The participants are selected based on criminogenic behavior based on substance abuse, return to incarceration due to behavior based on substance violations, or frequent relapse behavior requiring a higher level of intervention. Given the success of the Pathways Program, the TC model was judged to be the most effective strategy for this population.

The goals of the Vermont Fiscal Year 2009 RSAT program are: 1) to provide high quality treatment services within the prison setting that promotes program completion, which results in a drug and crime free lifestyle upon their return to the community; 2) enhance the capability of states and units of local government to provide residential substance abuse treatment for incarcerated inmates, and 3) prepare offenders for reintegration into communities by incorporating reentry planning activities into treatment programs.

NCA/NCF