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 responsive substance abuse/mental health treatment services to the MOM’s Program. The MOM’s Program is a 16-bed unit for the pregnant and post-partum addicted women with residential services with and/or apart from newborns. Specialized services are offered with counseling for substance use, mental health disorders, domestic violence, faith based programming, and family enrichment. A recovery home allowing newborns to stay with mom is available to participants. Outpatient services are offered through Project Safe, a special outpatient program for women that provides child care, intervention, prevention, diagnosis and treatment for chemically dependent moms. Bilingual services are available along with detox, pre-natal detox, medical detox and treatment for pregnant addicted women. Health Education services include counseling and testing, prevention education, case management and viral load testing.

Alcohol Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Cocaine Anonymous (AA, NA, CA) are self help groups that are 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 and building personal recovery plans through the use of the time line steps and traditions.

The Catholic Charities ACES Program provides addiction counseling and educational services to adults struggling with problems associated with substance abuse. The Catholic Charities ACES Program is an OASA/DHS licensed program which operates twice per week as an aftercare component to help women maintain sobriety.

Faith Ministry

Liberty Center has been working with the Department of Women’s Justice Services since February 2000. The prison ministry provides the following services to the program participants:

· counseling to participants and their families
· employment referrals
· food pantry services
· formula for infants
· layettes
· diapers

Health Services

John H. Stroger Hospital provides comprehensive primary and specialized healthcare services to residents of Cook County. Since December 1999, Cook County Hospital has been providing OB/GYN, pre-natal, and post-partum care for MOM’s participants.

The Dr. James West Clinic located in the building which houses the MOM’s Program, provides physical exams, monitors all lab work, facilitates restoration of good physical and mental health and provides communicable disease prevention treatment and referral. The clinic is open Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. for the provision of primary health care services. On-site nursing services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Physician support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by telephone and in-person when the physicians are on site. All pregnant residential patients are required to have a routine physical examination performed within 3 days following admission. Patients medications are stored in a secure and centralized cart on the unit.

Mental Health

This program utilizes the “Beyond Trauma: A Healing Journey for Women” curriculum, by Dr. Stephanie Covington. “Beyond Trauma” gives a clear, deeper understanding of trauma. It also explores what trauma is and how widespread it is in women’s lives. Beyond Trauma also allows for exploration into trauma and abuse and how this impacts individuals. It provides coping mechanisms with exercises to help the woman feel grounded and focus on safety.

Psychiatric care is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by telephone and on-site Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. at Haymarket Center. The Psychological Team or other appropriately credentialed clinical staff (e.g. CPC, MSW, etc.) make psychiatric referrals to outside services at local hospitals and mental health agencies.

Care for Children

The Wholly Innocence Daycare Center is on-site and offers services for children that include day care, meals, and a beautiful playground. Children stay with the MOM in the post-partum residence, residential recovery home and accompany moms who attend weekday outpatient sessions. While living with their mom, children experience day care with specialist and professional child development.

Housing

The Recovery Home is a 21-bed facility designed for women who have completed an inpatient program and require a safe, drug free, supportive environment while building a new life. The Recovery Home can also accommodate 16 children between the ages of infancy and five years old. Initially, all residents are required to attend outpatient treatment. Upon completion of outpatient, residents are expected to find employment or enter a school program to obtain a GED or higher degree if desired. Staff also assists residents with enrolling in job training and placement programs.

Madison Place is a second-stage Recovery Home for women and their children who have completed substance abuse treatment and are living in a recovery environment, while working or attending school. It offers transitional living in a secure facility.

United Restoration Ministries / Chicago Victory Outreach Church is a Christian recovery home for women recently released from jail or prison. They also offer shelter for women with children including adolescens, spiritual support, transportation to comprehensive medical services including using neighborhood clinical referral services as needed.

Temporary shelter living services are provided through Leslie’s Place, Clara’s House, Oxford House, Debra’s Place, Safe Haven, Salvation Army-Evangeline Booth Home. In addition to temporary living assistance, case management is available to help develop long term and permanent housing plans.

Literacy/Education

Vocational counseling, GED, and job placement are offered in the family enrichment program for women in addition to other life skill enhancements at Haymarket Center. Haymarket offers an apprentice program in the recovery home for six months at the site with whatever duties are needed. MOM’s are able to work within the family enrichment program.

The Inner Voice Inc. is a learning center utilized by the MOM’s Program and open to the public. Computer classes are offered in basic keyboarding, introductions to Microsoft word, excel, access and power point. Job Readiness and business office procedures are also provided. In addition to the soft and hard skills offered, Inner Voice Inc. provides supportive services which include clothing assistance, counseling services, financial planning, housing assistance, adult basic education, GED, Literacy, job preparation and placement, vocational counseling and referrals. To register for the job placement program, participants must be at least 18 years of age, a TANF recipient or homeless.

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