North Lawndale ATC

The Safer Foundation opened North Lawndale Adult Transition Center on June 1, 2000, under contract with the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC). The center has a 200-bed capacity and is located at 2839 W. Fillmore on the west side of Chicago. The facility and the programs of the North Lawndale ATC are designed for offenders in work-release status transitioning from secure custody and preparing for parole. The security system within the facility enables staff to monitor residents' living areas, common areas, recreation areas and the streets in the area around the facility.

From the beginning, North Lawndale adopted a philosophy that good programming is good security and good security is good programming. In practice that means that residents who are active in programs create far less security problems than those who are not, and where there is structure and order, programs can be effectively implemented.

Highlights

Since North Lawndale opened three years ago, the need for an in-house substance treatment program was evident. In FY 2003, the North Lawndale ATC was able to obtain funding from the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse (OASA) to establish a substance abuse treatment program. The licensing and contract were finalized in March. In April, two staff counselors were hired and the program began operation.

North Lawndale has had a basic skills GED program. However, this year the center was able to begin a literacy program using volunteers from DePaul University as tutors. This program is able to address the educational needs of those residents who are not ready for the basic skills program. The center is planning to expand that program in FY 2004.

North Lawndale expanded life skills programming with the use of volunteers. The director of volunteer services for the Safer Foundation assisted in recruitment of volunteers. The center established weekly AA meetings as a result of these efforts. Staff also conducted several eight-week seminars on a variety of topics in a program called Keeping It Real. Representatives from Chicago health clinics made a series of presentations on a variety of health care issues. A representative from Project Success at Chicago State University made a presentation to the residents about the opportunities of post-secondary education. He also followed up and assisted residents with enrollment in college courses.

Reducing Recidivism

The mission of the Safer Foundation is to reduce recidivism. Efforts to reduce recidivism begin the first day a resident arrives. An intake is done that sets the tone for the resident's stay at the center. A 30-day orientation program focuses on changing the resident's thinking and preparing him to enter the job market. The resident receives an educational and substance assessment. A case manager develops an Individualized Program Contract (IPC) with the resident establishing goals with him for his stay at the center. He has four group sessions with a representative from the Adler School of Professional Psychology, which focuses on thinking errors. He also receives another six sessions with trained center staff in the Positive Solutions program using a cognitive restructuring approach.

Residents attend parenting class every Monday and Tuesday for four weeks. Three days of Employment Retention Training are provided. Depending on his needs, residents are placed in the basic skills GED program, see the employment specialist on staff to begin looking for a job, and enroll in the substance treatment program, or other appropriate placement. The thrust of the first 30 days is to prepare the resident for the remainder of his stay at the center.

Security Initiatives

The chief of security regularly attends monthly meetings hosted by the Commander of the 11th District of the Chicago Police Department and attended by area residents. The relationships formed as a result of these meetings have several benefits. The Chicago Police Department and the local residents have a better understanding of center activity. The community is aware of the presence of the center's residents. Community members feel free to contact the center if they see something that appears to be inappropriate. ATC residents also clean up the block where the center is located, which has further helped the goodwill with the community.

Fiscal Responsibility and Budgetary Compliance

North Lawndale collects maintenance pay from the residents. Staff monitor check stubs of the residents and the time sheets provided by employers to ensure residents turned in all their checks. Even though this was a difficult year for employment because of the job market, the center collected more than $165,000, which was returned to IDOC.

Indicator Reports

During FY 2003, North Lawndale implemented a more aggressive drug-screening program, increasing the number of screenings to more than 300 per month. The positive rate was just a little more than 1 percent, indicating minimal drug issues at the center. The escape/failure-to-return reports dropped to 13 from 19 in FY 2002. The number of resident grievances dropped in FY 2003 by one-third from the previous year. In FY 2003, 60 percent of the men leaving North Lawndale went out on parole compared to 48 percent in FY 2002. The significant reduction in revocations can be attributed to the enhanced programming provided during FY 2003.

New Technology and Automated Enhancements

North Lawndale is just three years old and has excellent electronic features. Cameras within the facility tape 24 hours a day and the camera system has a "zoom" lens, assisting staff in the detection of passing contraband during visits. The perimeter doors are alarmed enabling staff to pin point the area of exit or alarm at the main control desk. All control stations on the living units as well as the main control can monitor first and second floors, hallways, common areas, dining room and perimeter of the facility.

Conclusion

The most significant event in the past year was the initiation of a substance abuse treatment program. The Safer Foundation was able to obtain funding from OASA to support one full-time and one half-time certified substance abuse counselor.

In the coming year, the center expects to see the full impact of the program, as it will have a full year of services.