The NEXUS Program is a partnership between Community, Counseling, and Correctional Services, Inc. (CCCS) and the Montana Department of Corrections (MDOC). The program represents the culmination of efforts by CCCS and MDOC to provide an alternative, proactive response to traditional sentencing of adults who are involved with, and addicted to, methamphetamine and other chemicals of dependence.
NEXUS, which means connecting or linking services, is an 80-bed methamphetamine treatment facility for adult male offenders who have been convicted of second or subsequent methamphetamine possession or a first methamphetamine lab construction.
Located in Lewistown, Montana, it is a $9.2 million facility designed, financed, constructed, and owned by CCCS. Construction began May 2006 and the program began operating on June 1, 2007. NEXUS has 44 employees and it contracts with MDOC.
The program is based on a therapeutic community model of treatment and includes a comprehensive array of correctional programming and services, including food service, transportation, routine medical and dental services, and various other programs such as anger management, family relationships, life skills, criminal thinking errors, and cognitive restructuring groups and counseling.
The NEXUS Program is an intensive, cognitive-behavioral based addictions treatment community assisting clients to develop the skills necessary to create prosocial change, reduce antisocial thinking, interrupt criminal behavior patterns, and address the negative effects of chemical addictions while integrating more fully into society.
NEXUS Program has as one of its primary goals the operation of a safe, humane program, which provides a place of custody and provides programs and services that offer clients opportunities for positive change. Specific goals have additionally been set as benchmarks for the measurement of the services provided and are as follows:
- To increase the methamphetamine addicted offender's level of knowledge of chemical dependency and the consequences of methamphetamine use.
- To provide offenders with treatment and ancillary services necessary to create prosocial change, reduce antisocial thinking, criminal behavior patterns and the negative effects of chemical dependency—particularly as it relates to methamphetamine use.
- To promote responsibility and accountability of offenders by providing an experiential, prosocial community environment.
- to maintain a 98% level of offenders admitted to Phase II who have developed an individualized recovery plan by the end of Phase II of the program.
- To maintain a 98% level of offenders who have developed an individualized community-based aftercare plan by the end of the last phase of the program.
- To decrease the number and frequency of positive alcohol/drug screens while under probation supervision after graduation from the program.
- To decrease the proportion of offenders who violate probation as evidenced by a lower number of intermediate sanction and revocations.
- To decrease the incidence of further methamphetamine-related convictions.
Correctional programming and treatment staff have established the following objectives to enable NEXUS to best achieve program goals:
- All clients will be assessed upon intake using the following cross referenced diagnostic tools:
- Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 4th Edition (DSM-IV)
- Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory (SASSI)
- Short Michigan Alcoholism Screening test — the "short" being a shorter version of the original version (Short MAST)
- CAGE, which is a verbal screening method used to establish an index of suspicion. The acronym, CAGE, is based on these questions:
- Have you ever decided to cut down on your drinking?
- Have you ever been annoyed by questions about your drinking?
- Have you ever felt guilty about your drinking?
- Have you ever needed a morning eye-opener?
- All clients will participate in developing a Phase I individualized treatment plan.
- Ninety-eight percent of the clients admitted to the NEXUS Program will progress from Phase I to Phase II and will have developed an individualized recovery plan by the end of Phase II.
- Each client advancing to Phase II will participate in developing a Phase II individualized treatment plan.
- Ninety-eight percent of all clients advancing to Phase II will progress to Phase III.
- All clients advancing to Phase III will participate in developing a Phase III individualized treatment plan.
- All clients will participate in an individual counseling session upon admission into the program.
- All clients will participate in an individual counseling session with his/her lead counselor upon advancement to Phase II.
- All clients will participate in an individual counseling session with his/her lead counselor upon advancement to Phase III.
- All clients will participate in a staffing and continued stay session at least once every 30 days.
- All clients will meet with the Aftercare Coordinator at least 60 days before program completion.
- Ninety-eight percent of the clients will have developed a community-based aftercare place by the end of the program.
- All clients will participate in a discharge conference with the treatment and aftercare staff prior to discharge.
A dedicated team of staff distinguished by both education and experience provide services at NEXUS. CCCS has carefully selected a diverse, professional staff to ensure clients receive the most effective environment for correctional programming and community transitional services.
| Name: | Rick Barman |
| Title: | Program Administrator |
| Address: | P.O. Box 1200 |
| Lewistown, MT 59457 | |
| Phone: | 406-535-6660 ext. 225 |
| E-mail: | rbarman@cccscorp.com |
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