Process Evaluation of the Rhode Island Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Program (RSAT): The Operations of a Minimum- Security Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Program, Final Report

摘要

The Rhode Island Department of Corrections, Spectrum Health Systems, Inc., and the Center for Alcohol and Addictions Studies at Brown University collaborated on the process evaluation of a residential substance abuse treatment program (RSAT) established in the Rhode Island Department of Corrections minimum security unit for men. The ongoing program is based on a relapse prevention model (Marlatt & Gordon, 1985) and is centered on an academic format. The approach is designed to teach inmates how to adapt in the community to avoid their problem causing addictions and to focus on productive and healthy lifestyles. The program, called the Correctional Recovery Academy when started, began in 1997 and the process evaluation was conducted in 1998-2000. The process evaluation consists of both quantitative and qualitative approaches. The evaluation staff observed a large segment of cases, over 30 separate sections and documented the nature of the program, inmate interactions with the program and delivery of the material in class and by the staff. The focus of the observations was to determine whether the program as delivered corresponded to the program as written.