Womens Justice Services
Sheriff's Female Furlough Program (S.F.F.P.)
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The Sheriff's Female Furlough Program (female day reporting) enables women who are incarcerated at the Cook County Jail to leave the facility and return to their homes each evening to care for their families. The program is designed to treat female offenders and address their unique needs and to help preserve the bond between female inmates and their children.
Only women who are booked into the Jail on nonviolent offenses are allowed to participate in the program. Because the majority of women have been arrested on drug-related charges and have a history of trauma, substance abuse and mental health counseling are a significant part of the program. Those assigned to SFFP must report to the program each morning to participate in a regimen of gender responsive programming that includes random drug screening, job skills training, parenting classes, lifeskills, health education and literacy classes.
All of the women in the program are released on electronic monitoring and must remain in their homes until returning to the jail the next morning. Transition Planning and Aftercare (case management) is developed prior to discharge of each participant and is critical for the successful progression of a SFFP participant's reintegration into the community.
Gender Responsive Substance Abuse/Mental Health Treatment
The Cook County Sheriff’s Department of Women’s Justice Services has contracted with various agencies to provide comprehensive gender and culturally responsive Substance Abuse/Mental Health services to the Sheriff’s Female Furlough Program (SFFP). As part of the participant’s clinical assessment and treatment planning, the phase system has been developed to address individual participant needs. Several curriculum supports are used to teach women about addiction.
The substance abuse curriculum utilized is “Helping Women Recover” which has seventeen lessons which are divided into the four modules listed below:
- Self
- Relationships
- Sexuality
- Spirituality
The mental health curriculum is “Seeking Safety.” This program aims to assist clients work on both mental health and substance use disorders using a coping skills approach. It is present-focused, educational and seeks to help clients find safe ways to improve their lives without the use of substances or other self-destructive behaviors.
The Process
Orientation
Women are admitted to the program on a weekly basis. As a result, the orientation is conducted in small groups continuously. Each women receives a program handbook which outlines the rules and regulations governing the program including urinalysis testing requirements, available services, contact numbers, and the basic structure of the program. Women are in orientation one-two days and receive a primary counselor during this time. Each woman is given an individual programming schedule based on a needs assessment. Following orientation, staff conducts a clinical assessment and places the women in one of five phases. In all phases, the length of stay is fluid and determined by the participant’s progress. Each participant must petition to move phases. A case staffing is conducted which the participant, treatment staff, correctional staff and agencies as principal support providers are involved. A complete review of the participant urinalysis results, attendance, and electronic monitoring status, as well as group participation is reviewed to determine movement to the next phase.
Phase I - “New Beginnings”
Women report Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. The focus is education on substance abuse and the recovery process. Before a participant can move to the next phase, a clinical staffing occurs to assess her readiness, determine progress or the lack thereof. Criteria to progress to the next phase include:
- must be drug and alcohol free
- show evidence of gaining information about substance abuse
- actively participated in group therapy
- have met consistently with the assigned counselor
- complied with the rules and regulations in the participant handbook
- good attendance which includes being present and on time
- there have been no unexplained violations of electronic monitoring
- have displayed appropriate social behaviors
Phase II - “Women of Empowerment”
Women report Monday through Friday between the hours of 12:00 pm and 3:00 pm attending group therapy and individual sessions. During this phase, the treatment staff focuses on the roots of addiction and recovery from life traumas, and begin looking at thinking patterns in order to make behavioral changes . Criteria to move to phase III includes:
- remaining drug and alcohol free
- ability to acknowledge and identify thinking patterns which lead to abusing alcohol or drugs
- demonstrate insight about the roots of addiction
- actively participate in group and individual therapy
- continued good attendance
- no unexplained violations of electronic monitoring
- demonstrate positive behavioral changes
- a program schedule developed with the counselor and case manager
- continue following the program rules and regulations outlined in the Participant Handbook
Phase III - “Women In Discovery”
Reporting requirements remain Monday through Friday from 8:30 am - 12 pm if the participant has not been linked with a job or community based program. Women receive group therapy one time per week and individual counseling sessions are scheduled by appointment. Participants in this phase are introduced to the foundation services necessary for preparation to re-integrate into the community. Participants work closely with the case managers, counselors and staff to determine the appropriate program and services which best meet their individual skills, interest and needs. The flow chart outlined on the preceding pages highlights the numerous vendor services developed to meet life needs of participants. This is a dynamic process of creation that changes as new opportunities to collaborate arise. Criteria to move into phase IV includes:
- remaining drug and alcohol free
- securing valid identification and documentation necessary for employment
- completing a resume
- meet regularly with the case manager and counselor to determine the level of service and care
- continue to identify relapse triggers and have an on-going relapse plan
- participate in group and individual therapy
- continue to follow the rules and regulations outlined in the participant handbook
- attendance must remain good at all programs including the arranged community based programs
- no unexplained violations of electronic monitoring
- the participant must continue to display positive behavioral changes
- the participant must provide weekly job or program schedules
Phase IV - “Women in Transition”
Women in transition report twice a week between the hours of 6:00 pm and 7:30 pm. However, please note that the times will vary based on the volume of work schedules (i.e. DWJS/SFFP staff are flexible in meeting the needs of the participants). It is the desire of the Department of Women’s Justice Services to provide a flexible schedule through the substance abuse treatment staff and Mental Health Staff to ensuring participants are able to work and participate in programs that enhance their life. The security staff and clinical staff make every reasonable effort to avoid disrupting employment and training. However, we reserve the right to remove any participant from a program or service when the participant fails to maintain contact, follow the rules and regulations of the program or becomes a risk for public safety.
This is the stabilization phase of the program. Mandatory urine screens twice a week must occur. Failure to participate in group sessions or the random urinalysis testing will result in returning women back to a lower phase. An Alumni Association and family events are an integral part of helping to encourage and support women in transition. Criteria for completion/retention on this phase are:
- participants must remain drug and alcohol free
- must have a job or be a in school full time
- must complete the “Work/School Schedule” weekly with the case manager
- participants must participate in group and individual counseling sessions
- must follow the rules and regulations of the program
- must maintain good attendance
- no unexplained violations of electronic monitoring
- must demonstrate positive behavioral changes
Phase V – “Community Recovery”
Women in community recovery shall report to the Women of Power Alumni Association once per week. WOPAA is responsible for maintaining accurate attendance and reporting attendance to DWJS security staff. Phase V will continue to report per their random color code assignment for urinalysis drops. Criteria for completion/retention on this phase are:
- participants must remain drug and alcohol free
- must have a job or be a in school full time
- must complete the “Work/School Schedule” weekly with the case manager
- participants must participate in group
- must follow the rules and regulations of the program
- must maintain good attendance
- no unexplained violations of electronic monitoring
- must demonstrate positive behavioral changes
- court case is dismissed or participant is sentenced to probation, conditional discharge or supervision or has posted bond
Alcohol Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Cocaine Anonymous are self help groups conducted to help women maintain sobriety and foster an open format where recovery is focused on in a non-threatening manner. Honesty surrounding addiction is central in building a personal recovery plan through the use of the time line steps and traditions.
Mental Health
All DWJS programs utilize mental health assessments, individual and group sessions as well as crisis intervention through the DWJS mental health team. This team consists of two (2) clinical psychologists, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, a MISA Coordinator, and 10 Ph.D. candidate students from the Illinois School of Psychology and the Chicago School of Psychology.
The Safety & Empowerment Program utilizes the “Seeking Safety” curriculum is a new psychotherapy for patients with PTSD and substance use disorder. It aims to help clients work on both disorders at the same time, from the start of treatment, using coping skills approach. It does not focus on the past trauma, however provides the woman with tools to prevent future trauma. The curriculum consists of 25 modules that include therapist guide and patient handouts.
“Seeking Safety” has shown positive outcomes, through several research projects, one including a correctional setting.
The Department of Women’s Justice Services began a pilot project in the Women’s Residential Unit in April 2003, which the women have been very receptive. DWJS is incorporating the “Helping Women Recover,” curriculum by Dr. Stephanie Covington with “Seeking Safety,” in order to achieve the goal of an integrated model.
As a woman enters DWJS she precedes through the intake process, which consist of her demographics, case management needs, depression and anxiety screenings and trauma symptom checklist. Once she has completed the intake process, a treatment plan is developed by the treatment staff based on her individual needs. She will then be placed in one of the following groups; treatment as usual (substance abuse only), or depression/anxiety group or Safety and Empowerment Group. The case management component continues in all groups, with linkage to the community for continuity of care.
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Home > Womens Justice Services > Sheriff's Female Furlough Program
Cook County Sheriff's Office
Department of Women's Justice Services
Sheriff Thomas J. Dart
Executive Director Terrie L. McDermott
3026 South California Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60608
773-869-7731
Fax: 773-869-5441
dwjs@cookcountysheriff.org
