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Vigo County social services expands jail programs, adds Seeking Safety and reports participant gains
Summary
Social services staff described new reentry supports and a new Seeking Safety trauma-and-substance-use program in the jail and community, and a formerly incarcerated participant told the board he has maintained employment and sobriety after completing services.
Vigo County social services staff described program expansions in the county jail and community, including a 25-week Seeking Safety trauma-informed treatment track and continued MRT peer coaching, and presented participation and outcome figures.
Molly, social services, said the department added an intake coordinator and that Goodwill has agreed to provide clothing vouchers for people leaving jail. She described Seeking Safety as an evidence-based, trauma-and-substance-use program that can be run as a full 25-week curriculum or delivered in selected topical sessions; the department is piloting it and has one seven-week block underway.
Molly reported program statistics: 89 participants in peer coaching, 123 enrolled currently in MRT with 26 graduates so far this year, 88 participants in the interactive journaling/change program, 103 participants in Seeking Safety and 11 people who had been released after program contact. She said some participants who did not complete programming were later rearrested; three of the 11 formerly released participants who remained in contact were rearrested. Molly said staff plan to ask the county jail to track recidivism numbers at the end of the two-year cycle to compare outcomes.
Two program participants addressed the board. PJ Roberts, who described years of substance-use disorder and multiple incarcerations, credited the MRT program and county services with supporting his recovery; he said he is working, attending AA meetings, involved in community peer-support work and has built a business since release. Gary (surname not given) also updated the board on his progress obtaining employment and health care access after release.
Why it matters: The jail- and community-based programs aim to reduce recidivism and support reentry; staff emphasized the value of housing, clothing and clinical supports and said they will work with jail data to measure recidivism over time. Participants’ testimonials illustrated individual-level changes staff say result from program participation.
No formal board vote was taken on program funding or changes during the meeting.
