Residential Substance Abuse Treatment

The Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) for State Prisoners Program assists states and local governments to develop and implement substance abuse treatment programs in state and local correctional and detention facilities and to create and maintain community-based aftercare services for offenders. The goal of the RSAT Program is to break the cycle of drugs and violence by reducing the demand for, use, and trafficking of illegal drugs. RSAT enhances the capability of states and units of local government to provide residential substance abuse treatment for incarcerated inmates; prepares offenders for their reintegration into the communities from which they came by incorporating reentry planning activities into treatment programs; and assists offenders and their communities through the reentry process through the delivery of community-based treatment and other broad-based aftercare services. RSAT funds may be used to implement three types of programs: residential, jail-based, and aftercare. At least 10 percent of the total state allocation for FY 2010 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.

The FY 2010 RSAT grant funds will be sub-granted to the Connecticut Department of Correction to fund one full time Correctional Substance Abuse Counselor personnel and fringe benefits. This position will provide individual and group counseling sessions and prepare program participants for reentry. The grant funds will allow ongoing training for the substance abuse counselors and purchase of subject-matter videos, curriculum literature and publications for four correctional institutions. The consultant funding will allow for technical assistance and training for staff on evidence-based practice.

The Therapeutic Community (TC) model will be used to promote behavioral change through a highly structured and disciplined framework, using small and large group interactions to manage negative behavior and shape new behavior. Community-based residential substance abuse treatment beds will be available to offenders prior to parole release and for individuals who relapse after being released to parole supervision. After completion of the program, inmates will be discharged directly to supervision in the community with the Parole Officer developing a case management plan which will ensure continued participation in outpatient substance abuse treatment.

NCA/NCF