A new program at the Women's Community Correctional Center holds promise to keep women from returning once they leave there. Women’s program seeks
to halt drug cycleHina Mauka utilizes intensive
treatment and transitional helpBy Helen Altonn
haltonn@starbulletin.comIt is a residential unit with intensive substance abuse treatment services for offenders with two years left on their sentence.
Hina Mauka, a substance abuse treatment agency, is operating the therapeutic community for 50 women under a Department of Public Safety contract.
"To me it feels like pioneering," said Pat Wade of Hina Mauka, who developed and manages the in-depth therapeutic program. "There is not a lot of this going on anywhere. My desire was to develop a model that could be a blueprint in other places."
"We're just really excited about this," said Marian Tsuji, Corrections Division deputy director, explaining that it "represents a new kind of partnership.
"It's new because it's going to ensure after-care so they don't come back to us, and it's new because it's focusing on gender-responsive treatment for the women. The staff has really been behind it and working hard to make sure it works."
Though the program is less than two months old, WCCC Administrator John Kellam said he is getting "rave reviews" from the participants. "I can't say enough good things about the program."
It involves nine to 10 months of intense treatment focusing specifically on the women's needs, followed by furlough programs to transition into the community.
When they complete that process, Wade said, Hina Mauka follows them for another three months at one of its outpatient sites. This allows them to ease back into their home environment while still having a place to go to talk about difficulties they are having, he said.
The program consists of three phases, starting with intensive daylong treatment services Monday through Friday and family activities on Saturdays to encourage interaction and reunification.
The second phase involves day treatment services and individual work with a therapist focusing heavily on domestic violence and sex abuse issues.
Vocational and family education and reunification are emphasized in the third phase to improve the women's chances of success when freed.
As it is now, Wade said, "They go into almost a culture shock" when released. "They haven't been outside the walls for a while. To go back and be part of a family is a difficult task. It sets many of them up to fail."
A group meeting for family members is held Tuesday nights at Hina Mauka's residential facility in Kaneohe, and inmates and families have discussions Saturday mornings at WCCC.
Another plan is created for women who cannot go home, Wade said.
"We want them to be successful. Nothing is worse than sitting there, doing all your time, and you get out and you don't know how to cope, and you revert back to your old behavior, which is using (drugs)."
Psycho-educational classes and discussions are held every morning so the women can discuss their feelings, what is working and not working. The idea is to get them to recognize how they think and behave in certain situations so they can establish new goals, Wade said.
Only volunteers are accepted for the program so the women are really motivated to be there, he said.
Most women offenders have a history of both domestic violence and sex abuse, Wade said. "The program that does not address those factors is not going to be successful, and the family component as well."
He said the program, one of 19 operated statewide by Hina Mauka, constantly will be revised and updated to become more effective.
Kellam already is sold on it: "Just in a very short period of time, they're able to gain considerably more insight into things contributing to their being here and their substance abuse history."