DOC substance abuse contract
The Salvation Army Awarded DOC Substance Abuse Treatment Contract
ANCHORAGE – The Salvation Army Alaska Division and the Alaska Department of Corrections (ADOC) are working together to help incarcerated individuals at Hiland Mountain Correctional Center (HMCC) and at Goose Creek Correctional Center fight addiction.
The Salvation Army will provide evidence-based substance abuse treatment services that meet the individual assessed needs of offenders. By building on the success of The Salvation Army’s Clitheroe Center, those incarcerated and enrolled in the program will be provided the tools necessary to achieve lifetime recovery.
“We are thankful, and we are excited for this new venture with The Salvation Army,” ADOC Commissioner Dean Williams said. “As a state, we continue to fight high rates of alcoholism and drug abuse – issues that have plagued our communities. Drug and alcohol addiction drives the crime rate, and devastates families. Our inmate population reflects these tragic facts. To fight these issues, we must work together, and we must have these invaluable partnerships.”
As with the Clitheroe Center program, which began in 1976, treatment services will focus on addressing the substance abuse and mental health issues of individuals. The program will be culturally relevant and built around evidenced based practices, which addresses not only addictive behavior, but criminal thinking patterns as well.
The individual programs are; The Female Institutional Program, Medication Assisted Treatment Reentry Program, Psycho-Educational Substance Abuse Services, Screening, and Assessment Program, The Male Institutional Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment Program, The Female Institutional Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment Program and The Institutional Dual Diagnosis Outpatient Substance Abuse Program. When successfully completed these programs qualify as an approved legal system substance use treatment program.
Program administrator Pat Ventgen said The Salvation Army is excited to provide substance abuse treatment services to an estimated 1,400 clients a year. “Because substance Abuse is a documented issue for an overwhelming majority of those incarcerated. Assisting offenders with their addiction is the important key to reducing recidivism.”
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About The Salvation Army in Alaska
The Salvation Army, an evangelic part of the universal Christian church, supports those in need in His name without discrimination, offering spiritual encouragement and basic services to meet the needs of Alaskans in 18 communities. The Salvation Army has been caring for mind, body, spirit and soul of individuals, children and families in Alaska since 1898. In 2017 The Salvation Army has served 300,769 meals, helps more than 7,800 Alaskans monthly, 71,175 bed nights available, 49,612 toys and gifts and more than 11,500 clothing items provided. For more information, please visit Alaska.salvationarmy.org.