Data shows that as many as 90 percent of women in prisons have experienced some sort of interpersonal or sexual violence in their lives, contributing to criminal behavior and risk factors for…

This $421,061 Formula Grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance under the Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) for State Prisoners Program (CFDA 16.593) will support a trauma-informed, gender-responsive substance abuse treatment program for female inmates at the Kansas Department of Corrections Women's Correctional Facility in Topeka, Kansas. The program aims to address substance abuse and recidivism risk factors among participants through a combination of evidence-based curricula, including the existing Substance Abuse Recovery Treatment Program (SARP) and the Helping Women Recover trauma-focused curriculum. Key project objectives include assessing participants for trauma, achieving a 75% successful completion rate for both the SARP and Helping Women Recover components, and linking program completers to recovery planning and community-based aftercare services to support successful reentry. The Governor's Grants Program Division in the Executive Office of the State of Kansas is the designated administering agency overseeing implementation of this 4-year grant project.

Data shows that as many as 90 percent of women in prisons have experienced some sort of interpersonal or sexual violence in their lives, contributing to criminal behavior and risk factors for substance abuse/misuse. Program will be implemented at the kansas department of corrections womens correction facility in topeka, kansas, and will target substance abuse among female residents assessed showing need for treatment and high risks in substance use/abuse and recidivism. Curriculum will include the existing substance abuse recovery treatment program (SARP) and a gender-responsive component to address trauma. Project objectives include: participants will be assessed for trauma, complete pre-and-post program, and complete treatment plan;75% of participants will successfully complete SARP curriculum;75% of participants will successfully complete helping women recover curriculum; participants completing the program will have recovery plan and receive pre-release assessment and care coordination for recovery and treatment needs in the community upon release; AND75% of successful completers will participate in advanced practice in the facility and/or community. Strategies, partnerships, anticipated outcomes will include program will combine evidence-based cognitive-based skills-building curriculum to address substance misuse, with an additional gender-based trauma-focused curriculum to address responsivity related to trauma, for females who have experienced trauma and have a history of substance use, monitored closely through fidelity, data tracking and an independent evaluation. Program will be supported by strong partnerships with the state substance use/mental health agency, and regional alcohol and drug assessment centers.deliverables include a model that is gender-responsive and trauma-informed implemented in a specialized unit with a supportive and safe environment.