Guiding Principles
I will be fearless in the face of failure by bouncing back from adversity and learning from my mistakes
I will value myself and develop healthy goals and values that give me a sense of direction and purpose
I will maintain self-control, make responsible choices, and not allow myself to be controlled by others
Overview & Eligibility
The Atascosa Substance Abuse Program’s mission is developing resilience, confidence, and discipline in young men to live substance-free. In accordance with 37 TAC 343, our program provides rehabilitative services, including professional counseling services, substance abuse prevention education, HIV/AIDS prevention education, and case plan coordination with the resident’s Juvenile Probation Officer (JPO). Our program length is six-to-nine months based on resident performance.
Prospective youth must be ordered by the Juvenile Court and meet the following eligibility criteria:
Males between 13 to 17 years old.
Current substance use disorder diagnosis or dual diagnosis.
Full scale IQ of 70 or above.
No history of sexually assaultive behavior.
No acute psychiatric or medical symptoms requiring an intensive level of care or hospitalization.
Purpose & Goals
The program’s purpose is to provide a therapeutic alternative, at the Juvenile Court’s discretion, for youth that need substance abuse treatment, trauma-informed care, behavior modification, and cognitive therapy. Program goals include the following:
Provide a safe and secure environment for every youth in the facility.
Promote positive lifestyle changes and behaviors through effective programming, evidence-based treatment, and youth participation—emphasizing an attitude of self-responsibility.
Help reintegrate youth back into the community by providing family counseling and coordinated aftercare planning.
Progression
Treatment goals are created and measured in the areas of behavior, school, and therapy. Behavior progress is measured through our Rational Behavior Training (RBT) program and determines resident privileges. School progress is determined by participation, credit recovery progress, and grades (if included in court order). Therapy progress is determined by participation in individual, group, and family therapy as well as progression through the A New Direction curriculum. Residents will have monthly meetings with their counselor and JPO to discuss treatment progress. A comprehensive explanation of the RBT Program including expectations, rewards, violations, discipline, and successful completion is in the Post-Adjudication Resident Handbook.
Services
The Atascosa Substance Abuse Program is a specialized treatment program as defined by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD-FIS-175) and 37 TAC 353. The following provided services comply with a specialized level of care.
These group sessions focus on topics, including:
Substance abuse, covering Mindfulness, CBT, and Motivational Interviewing practices to address cravings, triggers, impulse control; internal and external risk factors; and addictive behaviors.
Practical life skills, covering a wide range including money management, independent living, employment, character-building, conflict resolution, and topics on health and nutrition.
Psychoeducation, covering evidence-based strategies for moral reasoning, anger management, trauma-informed exercises, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques.
HIV/AIDS education, including curriculum on HIV/AIDS prevention and communicable/non-communicable diseases in coordination with our Health Service Coordinator.
The resident’s counselor will contact their family once per month (at minimum) to discuss the resident’s treatment plan progress, to provide support for family members, to educate family’s role in relapse prevention, and to prepare family for potential barriers to the resident’s successful reentry into their home and community.
Residents will receive weekly individual counseling, utilizing appropriate, evidence-based practices and promoting a safe environment. Individual therapy is provided in-person and includes both scheduled sessions and impromptu check-ins, as needed. Therapy will include uncovering and processing past trauma, learning coping skills, and developing a relapse prevention plan, among other things.
A New Direction: A Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Program. This program was created by the Minnesota Department of Corrections and Hazelden Publishing and covers treatment for criminal and addictive behavior. Curriculum follows a path beginning with introduction to treatment and covers substance education, criminal and addictive thinking, socialization and relationship skills, relapse, and reentry into the community.
Medical services (including dental, vision, and psychiatric) are available to residents who require regular prescription renewals and monitoring. Any services that cannot be provided at our facility will be appropriately referred out.
Residents incorporate behavioral training into all daily activities and are scored at intervals throughout each day. RBT establishes a culture of discipline, self-responsibility, and is reviewed in conjunction with other developmental aspects to determine a resident’s successful progression towards program completion and reintegration.