Attachment_11_Company_Experience.pdf

SAGE Counseling, Inc. Solicitation Number: BPM007036 Attachment 11 Company Experience

7/25/2025 1 | P a g e ADCRR Community Accountability Program Services

2.0 Company Experience

2.3 Provide two (2) detailed examples that exhibit your experience with the Materials or Services for clients relevant to the Scope of Work? Provide supporting documentation as a separate at-tachment and title the document: “Attachment - Company Experience”.

EXAMPLE #1: TRANSITION PROGRAM with the ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF CORREC- TIONS, REHABILITATION, and RE-ENTRY (ADCRR)

SAGE Counseling has been providing contracted services for the Arizona Department of Correc-tions, Rehabilitation, and Re-Entry Transition Program since 2011. We developed this Transition Program in collaboration with ADCRR based on the research conducted by the experts in the field of inmate reentry and treatment, and we adhere to the Evidence-Based Principles (EBP) that are published in the professional literature on rehabilitation. For example, the National Institute of Corrections’ Transition from Prison to the Community (TPC) Case Management Handbook main-tains that the best approach to “enhance community safety is through the prevention of future victimization” as well as supporting “safer and healthier communities,” and this entails these prin-ciples:

• Using empirically based and validated assessments of risk and need.

• Focusing on effective interventions that reduce risk among higher risk offenders dur-ing incarceration, the release phase, and after release into the community.

• Using methods to enhance offenders’ motivation and to equip them with basic tools to complete a stable transition to the community.

• Using strategies to target resources that protect community safety.

• Acknowledging one basic fact: Not all offenders are alike.

In the ADCRR Transition Program, we follow this approach and principles. In order to achieve the best outcomes, our treatment philosophy and clinical approach are grounded in Evidence-Based Principles, so the assessment tools and curricula we use are empirically validated and specifically developed for criminal offenders.

Following EBP, our treatment approach is primarily Cognitive-Behavioral in orientation, and we consistently employ Motivational Interviewing techniques, the Stages of Change Model, a Strengths-Based Orientation, and Trauma-Informed Care. These are the orientations that have been shown to be most effective with a wide variety of criminal offending populations, and so they are the primary treatment methodology employed at SAGE. All our programs emphasize personal responsibility, increased awareness of problematic beliefs and behavior, and key skill develop-ment and rehearsal. Our clinical interventions cultivate realistic opportunities for change by ad-dressing dynamic criminogenic needs which reduce recidivism.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Interviewing are therapeutic approaches that are the basis for all therapeutic interventions utilized in our programs.

Motivational Interviewing is a person-centered approach utilized to explore ambivalence. The in-tended outcome of this intervention is to assist clients in identifying their own personal motivation to change. This is a collaborative approach that avoids pressure or coercion and instead en-hances the client’s intrinsic motivation toward positive change and achieving their treatment goals

Some of the basic tenets of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Include:

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• The way one thinks and believes affects how one feels and acts; ergo, changing the former will change the latter,

• One can learn (and be taught) to identify and change one’s beliefs, attitudes, and self-defeating thinking patterns,

• Relapses and recidivism involve cognitive decision-making processes

Some of the techniques used in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy with the court referred population are:

• Identifying and confronting thinking errors, permission-giving beliefs, negative attrib-utions of self and others, and positive outcome expectancies of substance abuse

• Using Thinking Reports in cognitive restructuring

• Identifying personal clues or warning signs and high-risk situations

• Teaching multiple, concrete coping skills to avoid relapses even in difficult situations, e.g., avoiding high-risk situations, adopting positive coping skills, and using positive self-talk

• Utilizing advantages/disadvantages analyses and thought blocking, for example, rec-ognizing problematic thoughts and refocusing one’s attention on helpful thoughts.

Our clients are taught and encouraged to:

• Utilize appropriate coping responses and skills to alter problematic behavior, e.g., us-ing drugs, interpersonal conflicts, anti-social or illegal behavior

• Identify specific high-risk situations for potential relapses or a return to criminal think-ing or behavior

• Accept responsibility for their criminal behavior by learning how to identify and change thinking errors, self-serving cognitive distortions, mistaken beliefs, minimizations, ra-tionalizations, and victim-stancing

• Develop new social skills for cultivating satisfying relationships, pro-social behavior, acquire a more positive self-concept, and develop new expectations of themselves.

Our treatment programs target functional, dynamic treatment goals and focus on our cli-ents’ criminogenic needs. We practice development and rehearsal of multiple skills, includ-ing:

• Refusal skills

• Impulse control

• Emotional regulation and anger management

• Assertiveness

• Problem solving

• Conflict resolution skills

• Social/Communication skills

• Effective Coping

• Stress Management

• Relapse Prevention Treatment

• Self-Change Skills

Research results provide compelling evidence that treatment for criminal offenders (as well as for most populations) is most effective when it is specifically matched to the clients’ individual needs, 7/25/2025 3 | P a g e i.e., Treatment Matching. At SAGE Counseling, because we know that one size does not fit all, we provide multiple Treatment Tracks in our programs.

TREATMENT TRACKS

To best serve our clients and achieve positive outcomes, our Treatment Tracks provide different modalities and curricula, vary in length, content, number of sessions per week, and client compo-sition. A description of our Tracks for Substance Abuse and Cognitive Restructuring treatment are outlined below.

• We always separate low risk to recidivate clients from medium or high ones in our groups.

• Most of our counseling groups (and all of our substance abuse groups) are gender specific.

• We have specialized curricula for each Treatment Track. For example, we have 4 different Tracks for Substance Abuse Treatment, as well as DUI Level II Education.

• Our counselors are formally trained in each curriculum before they facilitate a group.

• Three of our curricula require formal certification based on multi-day structured train-ing before facilitating them, and for all 3 of those curricula, SAGE has Certified Train-ers on staff to continue training new counselors, as needed.

• Most of our counseling groups are 2 hours in length, and our Intensive Outpatient Program groups are 3 hours.

• Most of our Treatment Tracks have an open structure, but our Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) is hybrid in terms of being a partially open structure. Our IOP has 3 Phases, and clients are required to complete all the curriculum lessons in each Phase before they can graduate into the next one.

Treatment Track 1: Substance Abuse Early Intervention Program

Our curriculum for this Track is the evidence-based Group Therapy for Substance Abuse: A Stages-of-Change Therapy Manual, by Velasquez, Crouch, Stephens, and DiClemente (2016).

It was developed specifically for criminal offending substance abusers, utilizes a Trans-Theoreti-cal Model (TTM) approach for substance abuse treatment, and employs various evidence-based practices. The structure of the TTM includes two main principles: Stages of Change and Pro-cesses of Change. This Track is for low-risk clients and has a one group a week Track. The number of sessions varies depending on clients’ needs, but the typical amount is 15 to 25. The curriculum provides a facilitator’s manual, with client exercises and homework. In addition to the facilitator manuals, each of our counselors has a digital version of all the clients’ handouts for ease of use with their groups. They can also access them anytime on our agency’s intranet.

Treatment Track 2: Substance Abuse Lapse/Relapse Prevention

We are utilizing SAMHSA’s evidence-based Counselor’s Manual for Relapse Prevention with Chemically Dependent Criminal Offenders, along with portions of Hazelden’s Living in Bal-ance which is #19 in their Technical Assistance Publication series. It has many exercises that provide key material for role playing and skill rehearsal and address both substance abuse and criminal offending, both individually and jointly. This Track is also one session a week and has only low-risk clients included. The number of sessions varies depending on clients’ needs, but the typical amount is 15 to 25.

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Treatment Track 3A: Substance Abuse Standard Outpatient Treatment (SOP)

Our curriculum for this Track is Hazelden’s Living in Balance, which is an evidence-based, cog-nitive-behavioral, substance abuse treatment program that was introduced in 2015 and included in SAMHSA’s National Registry of Evidence-Based Program and Practices. This Track is for mod-erate-risk clients and includes 2 sessions per week. The curriculum has 275 pages in the facilitator guides and over 1400 pages of clients’ session materials, which are divided into 37 different ses-sion topics. In addition to the core recovery sessions which include relapse prevention, cognitive, social, emotional, and coping skills development, the program also addresses several other topics related to social determinants of health and criminogenic needs, such as problematic attitudes and beliefs, health issues, chronic pain and opiates, financial management, problematic social relationships, and parenting/family matters. The Arizona Department of Corrections has been uti-lizing Living in Balance for several years and recommended it to us. The number of sessions varies depending on clients’ needs, but is typically 20 – 35 sessions.

Treatment Track 3B: Substance Abuse Standard Outpatient Treatment (SOP)

This Track has the same structure as Track 3A, but we use a different curriculum that in 3A, in order to better meet the needs of clients who have more anti-social thinking and behavior and also need more social and problem-solving skill development. The curriculum in this Track is Criminal Conduct and Substance Abuse: Strategies for Self-Change (SSC), which we also use in Track 4.

Treatment Track 4: Substance Abuse Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)

We are utilizing the evidence-based curriculum: Criminal Conduct and Substance Abuse:

Strategies for Self-Change (SSC). This is an interactive, cognitive-behavioral treatment program for clients with a history of criminal conduct and substance abuse. SSC looks at the interaction of these two conditions in recovery of substance use and to reduce recidivism. SSC uses an inte-grated, social accountability approach and is built around three stages of change in 3 Phases:

• Phase 1: Challenge to Change: Building Knowledge and Skills for Responsible Living

• Phase 2: Commitment to Change: Strengthening Skills for Self-Improvement, Change, and Responsible Living

• Phase 3: Taking Ownership of Change: Lifestyle Balance and Healthy Living

This Track is for high-risk, high-need clients and entails a step-down structure. Clients begin with 3 groups per week, then step down to two, and during their 3rd Phase, they have only 1 group per week. A client must complete all the sessions in each Phase before graduating into the next one.

In this Track, the group sessions are always supplemented with some individual counseling.

Treatment Track 5: Cognitive Skills

This Track includes 1 Session per Week for Low-Risk Clients. We utilize an evidence-based curriculum called Decision Points. Before a clinician can facilitate Decision Points, they must become certified which requires 4 full days of training and then passing a competency test. SAGE has several clinicians who are certified for this program.

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Decision Points is a cognitive-behavioral curriculum based on principles with broad based re-search support in reducing problematic behavior and recidivism. It directly addresses the Risk- Need-Responsivity model of intervention with criminal offenders. It seeks to help participants take themselves out of a “trouble cycle” where one decision creates problems that compounds on itself. Decision Points is comprised of 4 steps: Step 1) Identify My Thoughts and Feelings, Step

2) Think About Others Who Care What I Do, Step 3) Think About Choices. Pick One, Step 4) Identify A Motivating Thought.

Clients need to demonstrate a mastery of each skill before advancing to the next one. This is done through a combination of a written exercise of each step outside of class, as well as role playing of a risk situation while in class.

Treatment Track 6: Cognitive Skills

This higher-level Track includes 2 Sessions per Week for Moderate and High-Risk Clients and is only for moderate and high-risk to recidivate clients. The curriculum we utilize for this Track is a combination of two curricula from Texas Christian University’s Institute of Behavioral Research, Unlock Your Thinking, Open Your Mind and Getting Motivated to Change” They were both developed for criminal justice clients and are registered in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA’s) National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices (http://nrepp.samhsa.gov). They both draw on the technique of Node-Link Mapping, which has been shown to be particularly effective with criminal justice clients.

Some of the goals and objectives of our Cognitive Skills program are to:

• Challenge clients’ unrealistic positive outcome expectancies for problematic or crimi-nal behavior

• Teach effective coping skills (cognitive & behavioral) to deal with impulsive or illegal behavior

• Change clients’ beliefs & associations that support criminal behavior

• Improve clients’ self-efficacy about making positive changes

• Identify and change thinking errors and maladaptive beliefs (e.g., using Thinking Re-ports)

• Teach specific coping and living skills, e.g., drug refusal skills, problem-solving, deci-sion-making, communication and socialization, and assertiveness

• Change negative core beliefs about themselves

• Preparing for the Abstinence Violation Effect if/when clients relapse or recidivate

• Reduce negative emotional states that increase risk of relapse, e.g., depression, boredom, anxiety, anger, loneliness, and feeling “less-than”

• Facilitate positive lifestyle changes that promote greater satisfaction with life, e.g., employment/training success, positive social relationships, pro-social activities, etc.

• Address underlying issues to criminal behavior and/or substance abuse, e.g. trauma.

EXAMPLE #2: SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDER TREATMENT with the ARIZONA DEPART- MENT OF CORRECTIONS, REHABILITATION, and RE-ENTRY (ADCRR)

SAGE Counseling has held a contract with the Arizona Department of Corrections and Rehabili-tation and Reentry since 2021 for Substance Abuse treatment for criminal offenders, which we provide in multiple state prisons in Arizona. We have extensive experience in operating a variety

7/25/2025 6 | P a g e of Substance Abuse Treatment services in both English and Spanish. For this contract, we are currently offering 4 separate service formats:

Moderate Four sessions per week, each for a minimum 2-hour duration Intensive Four sessions per week, each for a minimum 2-hour duration DUI Two sessions per week, each for a minimum 2-hour duration Outpatient One session per week for a minimum 1-hour duration

We currently utilize the Living in Balance curricula from Hazelden to provide substance abuse treatment in ADCRR’s prisons, and also in our outpatient treatment program. We have been providing training for our clinical staff to facilitate Living in Balance for the past 5 years, and also began using A Women’s Addiction Workbook more recently inside the prisons.

In terms of Cognitive Restructuring groups, we also have also provided behavioral health services in the Maricopa County Sherriff Office’s (MCSO) Jails for almost 20 years. SAGE Counseling has extensive experience and expertise assisting clients involved in the criminal justice system (in-cluding thousands who have been referred to SAGE by ADCRR) in reducing their risk of relapse to substance misuse or recidivating in criminal behavior. SAGE has utilized Thinking for a Change (T4C), Decision Points (DP), and Open Your Mind; Unlock Your Thinking curricula to meet the contract guidelines and overarching goals for each client.

SAGE Counseling’s treatment programs are grounded in the evidence-based philosophy that in-tervention with justice-involved clients is most effective when it is:

1. Founded on evidence-based interventions and practices

2. Matched to clients’ specific risk and need level

3. Based on thorough assessment procedures

4. Targeted toward multiple dynamic criminogenic needs

5. Oriented in a primarily cognitive-behavioral approach

6. Couched in Motivational Interviewing and The Stages of Change Model

7. Provided by well-trained and well-supervised counselors

8. Based on highly structured curricula developed for that specific population.

All of our programs have a Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment (CBT) platform and are based on the principle that thinking drives behavior. In order to change problematic behavior, we help clients change their thinking and beliefs. We target functional treatment goals such as recovery from substance abuse, proactively responding to high-risk situations, effective problem solving, social skill development, refusal skills, fostering healthy relationships, positive alternatives to aggres-sion, maintaining employment, and clarifying personal values. Our counseling groups also teach and rehearse key skills for clients to reduce criminal thinking and behavior, including skills for using positive self-talk, anger management, assertiveness, and communication.