WOMEN'S PROGRAM SEEKS TO HALT DRUG CYCLE

Hina Mauka Utilizes Intensive Treatment And Transitional Help

A new program at the Women's Community Correctional Center holds promise to
keep women from returning once they leave there.

It is a residential unit with intensive substance abuse treatment services
for offenders with two years left on their sentence.

Hina Mauka, a substance abuse treatment agency, is operating the therapeutic
community for 50 women under a Department of Public Safety contract.

"To me it feels like pioneering," said Pat Wade of Hina Mauka, who developed
and manages the in-depth therapeutic program. "There is not a lot of this
going on anywhere. My desire was to develop a model that could be a
blueprint in other places."

"We're just really excited about this," said Marian Tsuji, Corrections
Division deputy director, explaining that it "represents a new kind of
partnership.

"It's new because it's going to ensure after-care so they don't come back to
us, and it's new because it's focusing on gender-responsive treatment for
the women. The staff has really been behind it and working hard to make sure
it works."

Though the program is less than two months old, WCCC Administrator John
Kellam said he is getting "rave reviews" from the participants. "I can't say
enough good things about the program."

It involves nine to 10 months of intense treatment focusing specifically on
the women's needs, followed by furlough programs to transition into the
community.

When they complete that process, Wade said, Hina Mauka follows them for
another three months at one of its outpatient sites. This allows them to
ease back into their home environment while still having a place to go to
talk about difficulties they are having, he said.

The program consists of three phases, starting with intensive daylong
treatment services Monday through Friday and family activities on Saturdays
to encourage interaction and reunification.

The second phase involves day treatment services and individual work with a
therapist focusing heavily on domestic violence and sex abuse issues.

Vocational and family education and reunification are emphasized in the
third phase to improve the women's chances of success when freed.

As it is now, Wade said, "They go into almost a culture shock" when
released. "They haven't been outside the walls for a while. To go back and
be part of a family is a difficult task. It sets many of them up to fail."

A group meeting for family members is held Tuesday nights at Hina Mauka's
residential facility in Kaneohe, and inmates and families have discussions
Saturday mornings at WCCC.

Another plan is created for women who cannot go home, Wade said.

"We want them to be successful. Nothing is worse than sitting there, doing
all your time, and you get out and you don't know how to cope, and you
revert back to your old behavior, which is using (drugs)."

Psycho-educational classes and discussions are held every morning so the
women can discuss their feelings, what is working and not working. The idea
is to get them to recognize how they think and behave in certain situations
so they can establish new goals, Wade said.

Only volunteers are accepted for the program so the women are really
motivated to be there, he said.

Most women offenders have a history of both domestic violence and sex abuse,
Wade said. "The program that does not address those factors is not going to
be successful, and the family component as well."

He said the program, one of 19 operated statewide by Hina Mauka, constantly
will be revised and updated to become more effective.

Kellam already is sold on it: "Just in a very short period of time, they're
able to gain considerably more insight into things contributing to their
being here and their substance abuse history."