Program Description

The CBCF program is an alternative to jail or prison incarceration.

Caseworkers work one-on-one with clients to guide their use of client services, monitor their programs, and assess them for re-offending risk factors. The caseworker and client work together to develop an Individual Program Plan, which is a written contract between the caseworker and client that states how the client is going to make positive changes in his/her life. It also provides the caseworker with a tool to evaluate a client’s progress. A comprehensive risk/needs assessment is conducted using the Ohio Risk Assessment System (ORAS).

EPICS II is a set of supervision techniques for caseworkers to use in their daily interactions with clients. It represents a series of skills which caseworkers use to build a therapeutic alliance, shape behavior, and develop a criminogenic relapse prevention plan with clients. EPICS II is a present-focused, collaborative and individualized approach targeting current factors that put the client at risk.

Core Correctional Practices are a combination of practices that staff can use to more effectively interact with clients and manage behavior. These practices include anti-criminal modeling, effective reinforcement and disapproval, effective use of authority, and building rapport.

Accreditation/Certification:

Screening eligibility and admission criteria established by the Facility Governing Board and in accordance with Ohio Administrative Code. Referrals are male felony offenders referred by the sentencing Courts of Common Pleas, Adult Parole Authority and as a condition of Judicial Release.

Services:

Thinking for a Change Booster (TFAC Booster): TFAC Booster is the aftercare component for clients who successfully complete TFAC. Individuals discuss current situations that are problematic for them, they process them, and get feedback from the group using the skills obtained from Thinking for a Change to assist in dealing with the situation pro-socially.

Thinking Errors: This class was developed using the Texas Christian University Criminal Thinking Scale and provides specific information regarding criminal thinking across the following six domains: entitlement, justification, personal irresponsibility, power orientation, cold heartedness, and criminal rationalization. Each class teaches one of the six domains using lecture, cognitive restructuring and role playing.

Good Intentions Bad Choices: This class focuses on relapse and/or recidivism prevention for clients who have intentions of succeeding/ straightening out their lives but fall back on thinking patterns that do the opposite. This group teaches the individual to recognize when they engage in these thought patterns, identify the risk, look at the possible consequences, and consider new thinking that could reduce and/or alleviate acting on the risk.

Wellness Self-Management: This group is for clients to learn how to manage mental health problems while still giving attention to their wants and goals in life. The eight goals of the Wellness Self-Management Program are: learning about recovery and what it can mean for you, making the best use of your mental and physical health services, learning how mental health and physical wellness will help you to achieve your goals and support your personal recovery, staying well by decreasing symptoms of a mental health problem, learning how to manage day-to-day stress and prevent relapse, staying well by connecting with others, staying well by living a healthy lifestyle, and recognizing and building on your cultural values and experiences to support your personal recovery.

Trauma Recovery and Empowerment Group: Instruction covers male gender roles and key emotional and relationship domains for male survivors. There is a focus on emotional, physical, and sexual abuse and their relationships to psychological symptoms, substance use, and relationship patterns. Also emphasized are development and strengthening of interpersonal, problem- solving, and life planning skills.

Substance Use Treatment: Clients complete a comprehensive relapse prevention plan that assists with maintaining long-term skills and prepares clients for aftercare planning. In addition, clients have the opportunity to attend an opiate specific group while participating in Medication Assisted Treatment.

Medication Assisted Treatment: Oral naltrexone, Vivitrol, burprenorphine and injectable buprenorphine are provided within the facility. If a client is prescribed methadone, coordination occurs with the methadone prescriber to have the medications delivered and stored at the facility. Medication assisted treatment is provided along with counseling and behavioral therapies.

The following ASAM levels of care are offered within the CBCF and use evidence based curriculums to learn and practice effective coping and decision making skills:

• Outpatient Pre-Treatment: The Take It or Leave It group (1.0 level of care) utilizes the Motivational Enhancement curriculum to help clients prepare for treatment.
• Intensive Outpatient Treatment Programming (IOP): A structured treatment for clients (2.1 level of care). Group meets four days per week for typically six weeks and 2.5 hours per session. Along with group sessions, clients meet with their counselors for individual sessions to set goals and work on their Treatment Plans. Curriculums used are Men’s Journey and University of Cincinnati Corrections Institute Cognitive Behavioral Interventions-Substance Use Adult. Counselors also have additional supplemental curriculum available.
• Aftercare: Ongoing care clients receive after completing treatment, designed to practice and reinforce skills for long-term recovery. (1.0 outpatient level of care). Client attends group sessions once per week for one hour and see their counselor for individual sessions. Clients continue working on their Treatment Plan and achieving goals they set while in treatment. Counselors have a vast array of curriculum to use during both group and individual sessions.

Family Matters: This program is facilitated by licensed clinicians and offered free to adult family members and support persons to learn about the disease of addiction and skills that are beneficial for healthy relationships. Participants learn techniques to help deal with stressful situations and how to assist their loved ones in recovery.

Mental Health: A full time, on-staff crisis clinician responds to clients’ immediate symptoms and helps them with a safety plan as needed. The crisis clinician also facilitates mental health and wellness focused groups and assists in linking the clients to community providers. In addition, The Cuyahoga County ADAMHS Board provides a mental health clinician.

Anger Management: The group sessions cover topics such as understanding anger, events and cues (to understand and manage your anger), forgiveness, effects of anger/domestic violence on children and families, anger control plans, recovery issues with rage, and anger and the family.

Anchor 4 Me: Mobile app used to provide support to clients struggling with personal issues or overall mental health. Each person receives a unique log-in that can be used during designated group times. The application is designed specifically for court involved people, targeted to assist individuals with the following:

• Problem solving
• Coping mechanisms
• Work on ideas and tools shared in group
• Access community resources for basic needs
• Connect to emergency assistance from trained counselors 24 hours a day
• Practicing different thinking through powerful and “real” virtual reality environments.

Thrive Peer Recovery Service: Thrive Peer Recovery Services provides mental health and substance use peer recovery services to self-identifying individuals in Ohio. Through various programs and initiatives, Peer Support Specialist supports our clients on their journey and enable them to achieve independence and long term recovery.

Educational/Employment

Employment Programming: Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Offenders Seeking Employment (CBI-EMP) was developed by the University of Cincinnati (UC) in partnership with Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation (MDRC) for offenders who are moderate to high need in the area of employment. The curriculum incorporates cognitive- behavioral interventions with more traditional employment approaches. The program teaches individuals how to identify and manage high risk situations related to obtaining and maintaining employment. Heavy emphasis is placed on skill building activities to assist with cognitive, social, emotional, and coping skill development for the work environment.

Employment Readiness: Assists clients with job searching skills, resume development, and interviewing techniques.

Adult Education Classes: The OHI General Education Diploma Program is designed to give clients the opportunity to gain a high school equivalent diploma in a positive learning environment while in the McDonnell Center. Clients work at their own pace while being taught and tutored by certified teachers from Aspire.

GED Testing: Clients prepare for and take the GED test on site. The McDonnell Center is a licensed Pearson Vue testing site for the GED program.

TYRO: Available on electronic tablets, TYRO is a life-changing program that empowers participants to recognize their past, promote healing, renew their mindset, rebuild their lives, reinvent their identity, and reinvest in their communities. Through this transformative journey, graduates emerge with a strong commitment to restoring family bonds, positively impacting their communities, and inspiring change around them.

What’s Happening: This group is open for clients to have a safe space to process race, diversity, culture, equity, and other inclusive topics and events in today’s society. The open forum teaches clients ways to communicate when discussing how to cope, support, and advocate for causes they care about. Clients can share their experiences, strengths, and hopes for change.

Grow With Google: This is a basic digital skills computer training program which uses the Google platform. The training is designed for learners who are new to digital tools and students that have minimal digital skills as well. The client learns how to create resumes, Power Point presentations, calendars, and meeting agendas; and how to store and share files and data. Students also learn how to protect themselves from online scams and to recognize the tools scammers use to steal consumers’ identities.

Money Management: Delivered by two grass roots agencies with deep history in the community: Harvest Consulting and the Wealth School. The program is based on components that have been proven to reduce recidivism by addressing behavioral change, structured social learning, and high expectations. Activities are high energy and designed to engage participants with various learning styles. Topics include: attitudes toward money, understanding credit, types of predatory lending, saving money on any income, and gambling. Participants will open savings accounts and set short-term and long-term financial goals.

Courthouse Navigation: Participants receive step-by-step instruction on how to eliminate barriers to employment, housing, and education by learning to self-manage the preliminary aspects of uncontested civil matters. The program further supports participants with administrative and judicial strategic planning, document development, filing instructions, providing legal coaching along the way. This includes practical application to self-manage a variety of legal challenges including: Child Support Arrearages; the Expungement Application Process; Establishing Legal Rights to Parenting Time; and The Power of Agreement - Mediation vs. Litigation.

Family Reunification

Fatherhood Initiative: Topics covered include the dehumanization of women to the men’s own history with their fathers. The classes address both the financial and emotional responsibilities of being a father.

Faith-based

Ministries: Provided regularly by 3rdDay Ministries and includes church services, bible study, prayer, and fellowship offered once a week.

Islamic Services: Services provided by Brother J’s Outreach offered once a week.

Transformation Recovery: Transformation recovery ministry facilitates a 12-step bible study designed to help a person address the spiritual aspect needed for long term sobriety during the recovery process. This is offered once a week.

Medical

HIV Testing: Cuyahoga County Health Department offers monthly testing. Clients are provided with information about HIV and prevention.

Nutrition: Nutrition Class is offered to teach clients healthy cooking and eating habits. Clients also learn about exercise and the importance of having a healthy lifestyle

Contact Us

Counties Served: Cuyahoga

Phone:
216-202-1017

Fax:
216-431-0788

Office Hours:
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday

Email:
CBCF@cuyahogacounty.us