| Cognitive Programs |
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| Cognitive Programs |
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Cognitive Skills Programs
The following programs focus on cognitive skills development that provide inmates with the tools for changing acquired behaviors through restructuring the thought processes so they may function as responsible and accountable members of a workforce, family, and community.
- Thinking For A Change
- Pathfinders
- Women In Community Service
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| Thinking For A Change |
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This program is designed to specifically confront faulty thinking errors. Thinking for A Change is a cognitive-behavioral program, governed by a simple, straightforward principle - thinking (internal behavior) controls actions (external behavior). Therefore, it is necessary to target offenders´ thinking in order to change their actions that lead to criminal conduct.
Thinking for A Change uses a combination of approaches to increase offender´s awareness of self and others. This deepened attentiveness to attitudes, beliefs and thinking patterns is combined with explicit teaching of interpersonal skills relevant to offenders´ present and future needs. The goal is to provide contextual instructions and related experiences so that offenders are confident and motivated to use pro-social skills when faced with interpersonal problems and/or anti-social or stressful problems. The philosophy of the program endorses that offenders should be empowered to be responsible for changing their own problem behavior. The intervention program provides the offender the tools to take pro-social action and change their offending ways.
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| PathFinders |
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This program is presented in a series of seven modules which include: team building, communication, problem solving, values, motivation, anger, and stress management. Each module incorporates self-assessment tools, discussions, and a variety of other teaching methodologies that actively engage inmates in the learning process, and is carefully built to engender respect for self and others, allowing the inmates to experience success, and get positive reinforcement for responsible, sensible behavior. This experience manifests itself through improved institutional conduct, and ultimately, lower rates of recidivism.
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| Women In Community Service |
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Women in Community Service (WICS) is a program for women nearing release. These programs emphasize basic life and employability skills. Through the involvement of program staff and volunteers, this program offers assistance to women utilizing a mentorship model in making a smooth transition back to the community. Women must give 40 hours of community service upon returning to the community.
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