SPOTLIGHT: Doylestown, PA Affiliate’s Criminal Justice Services

The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania in Doylestown offers a range of programs as part of its Criminal Justice Services, including DUI, Treatment Accountability for Safer Communities (TASC) and Anger Management.

DUI
The DUI Program consists of a Court Reporting Network alcohol and other drug evaluation, which is required by the state of Pennsylvania for each DUI. The evaluation is a set of roughly 115 questions pertaining to alcohol and other drug use, with specific questions about the day of and the month leading up to the DUI charge. Based on this evaluation, the state may require an alcohol and other drug assessment be completed.

The DUI Program also includes Alcohol Highway Safety (AHS), an education program that teaches about the effects of alcohol and other drugs (AOD) on the individual, their family and their community. The AHS program gives an individual a solid foundation about the inherent dangers that come along with the use of alcohol and other drugs. Alcohol Highway Safety School & Intervention is a component that allows individuals to explore personal issues that might be contributing to AOD abuse. After receiving a solid education from the AHS group, the intervention program encourages individuals to explore how AODs can interfere with their values. If necessary, outpatient treatment is available through a state-licensed program that offers group and individual sessions. There also is an 8-week program, Intervention II, which allows individuals to take a comprehensive look at their alcohol and other drug use. Included in the 8-week program is a Victim's Panel and Family/Friend Night. Topics explored are pattern and history of use, stages of change, motivation, self-esteem, decision making, and goal planning.

Treatment Accountability for Safer Communities (TASC)
Treatment Accountability for Safer Communities (TASC) provides a bridge between the Criminal Justice System and the drug and alcohol treatment community. Potential clients are identified and assessed to determine treatment need and potential. Accepted individuals are referred to the appropriate facility and monitored throughout their involvement by the Council’s case managers. TASC participants are offered numerous resources in their community. Clients have the chance to change within the community and are allotted personalized service plans to fit their individual needs. They are offered a new way to live without alcohol and other drugs and helped to improve other interfering factors to live a more prudent lifestyle. TASC also includes such services as case management, alcohol and other drug assessment, cognitive group, alcohol and other drug screens, 1:1 appointments and client advocacy.

Anger Management
For people with substance use disorders, anger management is a critical skill set necessary to preventing a relapse to active addiction. The Anger Management Program is designed for individuals who are in recovery from a substance use disorder and are having difficulties in the areas of employment, family/personal relationships and social situations. Dealing with the challenges of life can be frustrating and stressful, which can lead to feelings of anger. Anger can quickly escalate to hostile, and sometimes violent, behaviors. Left unmanaged, anger can often result in a person returning to the abuse of and/or dependence on addictive substances which just worsens the problem. The Anger Management Program is based on cognitive behavioral therapy model (CBT), which identifies for participants each incident of anger, improve skills on how to manage anger, and learn more appropriate ways to express those feelings. Disrupting the aggression cycle is a means of intervention. The treatment model is a combined CBT approach that employs relaxation, cognitive, and communication skills interventions.

For more information:
The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, Inc.
Doylestown PA
215/345-6644
www.councilsepa.org
Beverly J. Haberle, Executive Director, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Heidi Gordon, Criminal Justice Programs Manager, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.