Great Falls Transition Center Resident Programs
A “Chance for Change” does not refer to an overnight process. Even after learning to recognize when and where their mental processes go awry, residents can take considerable time or effort to replace a dysfunctional behavioral process or habit with a more reasonable and adaptive one. The following programs have proven beneficial to fulfillment of our mission and comprise our current treatment inventory:
The Great Falls Transition Center’s programs are all Evidence Based Programming, meaning research has been done to determine the effectiveness of programs, rather than relying on intuition or anecdotal evidence. The Center is currently using all Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT) based programming. MRT has over 200 outcome studies of 100,000+ individuals have been published on MRT showing that MRT TX leads to:
- Reduced Criminal Justice Involvement up to 65% lower.
- Improves program completion; medication and treatment adherence.
- Decrease hospitalizations and substance abuse usage.
- Improves psychiatric symptoms and functioning.
- Increases stability of housing and job retention.
- Enhances Life Purpose.
- Raises an individual’s motivation.
- ****Source: Correctional Counseling Inc. (CCI)
MRT-How to Escape Your Prison is a 24-36-week open-ended program that targets adults involved in the criminal justice system and/or have mental health and substance use disorders comorbid conditions. Resident complete workbook homework prior to coming to each session. In the group, residents present their homework, and the facilitator passes the client to the next step or has the client re-do the homework based on objective criteria.
MRT Breaking the Chains of Trauma is an MRT adaptation that incorporates all the key issues identified in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA) Trauma-Informed Treatment Protocol. The program is most beneficial in treating individuals suffering with mental health substance abuse disorders, and individuals struggling with day-to-day responsibilities.
MRT Life Skills Easy Money provides personal budgeting tips and financial information. This ten-week course provides residents with concrete advice on how to manage their money so money doesn't manage them.
MRT Untangling Relationships is targeted to residents involved in domestic violence or dysfunctional relationships. Residents confront the key issues of codependency including manipulation and dependent relationships in this 12-session group.
Chemical Dependency includes in-house delivery of Level One services using the “Stages of Change” process and community referral for intensive treatment options. Services include assessment, individual, and group sessions. Nexus and Elkhorn Program graduates attend weekly aftercare meetings focusing on their individual treatment plans.
MRT Coping with Anger is targeted to residents who have demonstrated difficulty with managing feelings of anger and frustration. Residents learn appropriate means to cope with negative emotions in this eight-module psycho-educational group. It is commonly used with offenders adjudicated of a violent crime, argumentative, or oppositional defiant residents. This course consists of 8- sessions.
MRT Thinking for Good is a 70-page workbook focuses especially on typical criminal thinking issues such as: Everyone lies, cheats, and steals; No one can be trusted. The rules don’t apply to them; That all relationships are manipulative. This is used with resistant offender population and is conducted in a group setting. The program prepares the most resistant residents for more treatment. Residents complete each of the program’s 10 modules before group sessions and share their homework in group.
MRT-Domestic Violence Bringing Peace to Relationships the MRT model is a cognitive-behavioral program designed to change how perpetrators of Intimate Partner Violence think (belief systems) therefore leading to changing their behaviors from any types of abuse where it is physical, emotional or financial to behaviors which include equality and acceptance. This program is open-ended and can be completed in 26 or 52 sessions.
MRT Parenting and Family Values is a 12-week cognitive-behavioral program designed to help residents improve their parenting skills and strengthen family values.
Job Preparedness Training is required of all residents entering the center. Residents who are new to the center will meet with the Center Employment Support Specialist and start the process of looking for employment. Residents also have the opportunity of meeting with the Center Educational Coordinator for assistance in creating a resume, starting the process of getting his/her GED/HiSet, or signing up for college classes furthering their education. Residents are required to job search Monday through Friday until full-time employed.
Victim Impact Program educates residents on the effects of crime on victims, families and the community. The course emphasizes both short and long-term consequences of the resident’s criminal act or acts and includes a wide range of crimes beginning with property crimes and ending with crimes against persons including the aftermath of homicide. One of the salient features of this program is the use of speakers in a Victim Impact Panel format. Crime victims effectively address residents in group and community settings which serve to foster empathy for the resident and a sense of healing for the speaker as their contribution may help prevent future crime.
****Victim Impact Program is not evidence based and was designed by the Department of Justice and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. This program is approved and used by the Montana Department of Corrections.
Ontario Domestic Assault Risk Assessment (ODARA) is a procedure to identify the risk of future assaults against intimate partner(s). This assessment tool was developed by the Ontario Provincial Police and the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. The ODARA is currently used with in the Montana Department of Corrections.