Co-Occurring Intensive Outpatient Program

About the Program

Category: Criminal Justice and Public Safety (Best in Category)

Year: 2018

The Co-Occurring Intensive Outpatient Program is administered by the Douglas County Community Mental Health Center and is embedded in the Douglas County Corrections Re-Entry Assistance Programming. This program utilizes the evidence-based practice model of the Matrix program with incarcerated individuals who have an identified co-occurring diagnosis (substance use disorder and a mental health diagnosis) as part of the re-entry program services the Douglas County Department of Corrections administers through its Community Corrections initiatives. A 2013 study of Douglas County, Nebraska found that incarcerated individuals with co-occurring disorders had a recidivism rate of 57 percent, and individuals with a co-occurring disorder were seven times more likely to have a jail admission than those with mental illness alone. The goal of this program is to provide treatment while the participants are incarcerated and abstaining from the use of chemicals, which in turn reduces the recidivism rate of those who complete the program. The program consists of two parts: the treatment component of three, 3-hour groups and one individual therapy session per week by dually credentialed and licensed therapists for 10 weeks. The second component is case-management services provided for a period of six months upon completion of the treatment program.