Regional Network of Programs Regional Counseling Servs (RCS) OP-DF
(203) 366-5817
www.regionalnetwork.org
480 Bond Street
Bridgeport CT 06610

Rehab and Insurance Services

Mix of mental health and substance abuse services
Services Provided: Substance abuse treatment
Type of Care: Outpatient, Partial hospitalization/day treatment
Special Programs/Groups: Persons with co-occurring mental and substance abuse disorders, Women, Men, Criminal justice clients

Outpatient Treatment

Programs with outpatient treatment vary in the types and intensity of services offered. Outpatient treatment costs less than residential or inpatient treatment and often is more suitable for people with jobs or extensive social support. Sometimes less intense recovery programs offer little more than simple drug education. Other outpatient models, such as intensive day treatment, can be comparable to residential programs in services and effectiveness, depending on the individual characteristics and needs of the patient. Group counseling is a major component in many outpatient programs. Some outpatient programs treat patients with medical or other mental health problems in addition to drug disorders.

Offender Target Factors

Drug abuse treatment should target factors that link to criminal behavior. Criminal thinking is a combination of attitudes and beliefs that support a criminal lifestyle and criminal behavior. Criminal thinking can include feelings of being entitled; feeling that criminal behavior is justified; failing to be responsible for actions; and consistently failing to anticipate or appreciate the consequences of behaviors. Criminal thinking is a pattern of thinking that often contributes to drug use and criminal behavior. Treatment that provides specific cognitive skills training to help individuals recognize errors in judgment that lead to drug abuse and criminal behavior may improve recovery from drug abuse.

Criminal Justice Supervision

Criminal justice supervision should incorporate treatment planning for drug abusing offenders and treatment providers should be aware of correctional supervision requirements. The coordination of drug abuse treatment with correctional planning can encourage participation in drug abuse treatment and can help treatment providers incorporate correctional requirements as treatment goals. Treatment providers should collaborate with criminal justice staff to evaluate individual treatment plans and ensure that each plan meets correctional supervision requirements, as well as to ensure the changing needs of each individual, which sometimes includes housing and childcare; medical, psychiatric and social support services; and vocational and employment assistance. For offenders with drug abuse problems, a treatment plan should incorporate the transition to community-based treatment and links to appropriate post-release services to improve the success of drug treatment and return to society. Abstinence requirements may necessitate a rapid clinical response, such as more counseling, targeted intervention or increased medication, in order to prevent relapse. Ongoing coordination between treatment providers and courts or parole and probation officers is important in addressing the complex needs of these individuals.