Active Behavioral Change (ABC):

ABC is a four-week program that helps inmates see their personal unproductive habits, develop thinking skills to change behaviors, and work on personal plans for positive change. Classes focus on how to stay in the moment of a situation and address the current issue. Inmates learn how to identify constructive and destructive self-communication and how self-talk affects behaviors.

Inmates identify goals and discover how to implement goal-achieving strategies. An awareness of the inmate's sub-conscious and the connection between thoughts and behaviors is examined. Class curriculum is based on A Framework for Breaking Barriers: A Cognitive Reality Model.

Classes meet three hours each day, Tuesday through Thursday, for four weeks.
The cost for the program is $100.

Substance Abuse Treatment Program (SATP):

SATP helps inmates explore and understand motivations and factors behind their substance use and introduces them to future treatment alternatives. This psycho-educational program sets the foundation for the inmate to address treatment issues and prepares him/her to continue with the right level of care needed for recovery. Inmates examine past conduct, thinking patterns, and consequences to substance using behavior. Issues addressed during the class include: affected life areas, family roles, relationships, thinking errors/responsible thinking, community resources, how to successfully address trigger situations, and avenues to continuing care. A combination of instruction, cognitive-behavioral based problem solving techniques, and group processing is utilized.

SATP is a four-week program that meets for three hours each day, Monday through Friday. The cost is $200.

Transitional Aftercare Program (TAP):

TAP provides immediate care and relapse prevention for graduates of the Ada County SATP. Issues addressed within the groups include relapse prevention, health implications of substance using behavior, how to utilize community resources, and ways to internalize and improve life skills. Life skills such as how to use appropriate communication styles, reintegrating into the family dynamic, implementing a budget, and prioritizing and scheduling responsibilities are taught. All inmates participate in an instructional meeting and a process group each week. Following graduation, they are able to return as alumni at no additional cost. The cost of TAP is $110, which breaks down to $5 per group (the first two groups are free).

When clients attend TAP, recidivism rates drop to 22% as compared to 55% with SATP alone. All clients attend a class on Tuesday nights and then may choose to attend a process group on Monday, Wednesday, or Thursday nights.

General Education Development (GED):

Inmates are eligible to study for GED free of cost during their stay in the Ada County Jail. An instructor from Boise State University (BSU) meets with the inmates to assess their individual progress and to determine if they are ready to test. The tests are supervised by BSU and cost $15 each.

Programs Staff Contacts:

Jon Hoffman, Programs Supervisor ... 577-3440
Sandy Jones, SATP Counselor ... 577-3493
Rubin Miles, SATP Counselor ... 577-3470
Amanda Bratton, TAP Counselor ... 577-3492
Cindy Williams, ABC Counselor ... 577-3490
Sheri Mote, ABC Counselor ... 577-3441