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Links Of Interest
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WOMEN FOR WOMEN PROGRAM
Atlanta City Detention
Center
254 Peachtree Street, SW
Atlanta, GA 30303
(404)865-8328 FAX
(404)658-6064 Mission Statement:  The
Women for Women Program is a therapeutic community dedicated to positive life
change through the abstinence from mood-altering substances. This program is designed
to assist those women who are sincerely motivated to explore past destructive
behaviors and to replace them with new, productive behaviors. Re-education is
both the philosophy and the goal of Women for Women. The program consists of abstinence
from illicit substances, relapse prevention groups, 12-step meetings, spirituality
groups, domestic violence groups, parenting skills education, life skills education,
co-dependency groups, remedial education groups, addictions education, women's
issues groups, career development education, health/hygiene education, and HIV/STD
education/groups. The program also promotes personal responsibility, intercommunication
skills, the successful development of support networks. Each participant
will be expected to study, engage in self-help processes, and to become a productive
member of the therapeutic community during the time that they are enrolled in
the program. The Women for Women Program is designed for sentenced female offenders
at the Atlanta City Detention Center who are either mandated by the courts or
who volunteer for the program. In both instances, screening, assessment and space
availability will determine eligibility for the program. Activities
in the therapeutic community (TC) address the following: - Substance
abuse and lifestyle problems.
- Education and counseling that will enable
each participant to engage in personal investigation into the causes of her alienation
form society, family, self, and friends as a result of substance abuse and criminal
behavior.
- Relapse prevention education that will enable participants to
have alternative options to using and tangible resources for support.
- Appropriate
after-care in the community designed to meet the needs of the participant who
has completed Phase I and is ready for PhaseII.
Program Description:
The
Women for Women Program is an intensive impatient substance abuse treatment program
in a therapeutic community (TC) environment at the Atlanta City Detention Center.
The program operates seven days a week on a highly-structured schedule. Treatment
teams in the TC consist of a dedicated treatment team officer on each shift and
a program director. Treatment team officers receive continuous training in the
dynamics of addictions. Program participants begin their days at 5:30 a.m.
and end at 10:00p.m. daily. Weekday mornings are focused solely on substance abuse
issues. Afternoons are directed towards psychoeducation. Evenings are comprised
of diverse group therapy and additional psychoeducational activities.
- Alcohol and Drug Education - This area includes alcohol and drug education
classes, 12-Step Concepts, 12-Step meetings and spirituality groups, and relapse
prevention classes. These classes enable the participants to understand the disease
of addiction as it pertains to their physical, emotional, and spiritual life,
as will as the effects of addiction on themselves, their families and employment.
- Group
Therapy/Community Meetings - Group therapy and community meetings assist participants
in addressing the emotional issues involved in recovery. It allows them to make
decisions, confront issues leading up to addiction and discuss the people, places
and things that are triggers and obstacles to recovery. The "house"
is kept in order by senior strengths. There is a big sister/little sister concept.
The participants learn to develop conflict resolution skills, social support,
community building, and coping skills.
- Career and Vocation - This
area includes remedial education, newspaper study, home economics groups and career/vocational
classes to help participants identify and develop productive employment opportunities.
- Life
Skills and Relational Education - This component of treatment is directed
at improving daily living skills and includes topics such as: motivation, budgeting
and goal setting. A diploma in Life Skills is awarded upon completion of the course.
- HIV/STD
Education - One full day per week is dedicated to HIV/STD education. Psychoeducational
classes and videos assist the participant in increasing her awareness and knowledge
in this area. Guest speakers are common on this day.
- Domestic Violence
Education - Participants are taught about the cycle of violence in a three-hour
per week course designed to assist them in recognizing the cycle and developing
options to violence in families as well as personal relationships.
- Self-Esteem
Education - Participants receive a 10-step study course in self-esteem which
enables them to visualize those behaviors which lead up to their addiction and
may have contributed to unacceptable choices in behavior.
- Parenting
Skills Education - Parenting skills are taught twice a week and give the participant
the opportunity to learn new skills to assist them in caring for children. The
course concentrates on developing rules for the household, how to discipline children
and how to have a community-type setting in the family with increased positive
interaction.
- Individual Therapy/Case Management - Each participant
will undergo a psychosocial assessment upon entry to the program. The treatment
team will develop an individual treatment plan and track progress.
- Transition
to After Care - Those individuals who are truly committed to the process of
recovery will complete Phase I at the Atlanta City Detention Center. On or near
this completion, members of the treatment team will discuss after-care with the
participant. The majority of the Phase I completers are transitioned to intensive
residential treatment centers. Others may prefer outpatient services.
Meet
the Staff: 
(from top left, clockwise) Officer Sylvia Randall Waymon (Program
Liason), Officer Karen Stitt (Day Watch Officer), Vivian Blair (Program Nurse),
Debra Rasouliyan (Program Director), Georgiana Bagley (Licensed Professional Counseler),
Officer Crystal Stinson (Morning Watch Officer), Officer Kiwanis Green (Evening
Watch Officer)
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