Community Recovery Program Moves Forward with Bowen Health Contracts – InkFreeNews.com

Flanked by Middle District County Commissioner Cary Groninger, left, and Northern District County Commissioner Brad Jackson, right, Southern District County Commissioner Bob Conley explains the county Opioid Commission’s recommendation for contracts with two fellow recovery coaches for the Kosciusko Community Recovery Program at the jail from a county commissioner meeting earlier this year. Photo by David Slone, Times-Union.

By David Slone
Times Union

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY – Contracts between the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office and Bowen Health, approved by the county commissioners on Monday, Nov. 4, will allow inmates to receive therapy while in jail.

Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Chris McKeand asked the commissioners for their approval of the two service agreements with Bowen Health, formerly Bowen Center.

“They will both question the (county) Opioid Commission’s approval of the peer recovery coaches and the therapy at the Kosciusko County Jail, which revolves around the recovery program,” he said.

The first agreement with Bowen Health is for $45,000 per year for a peer recovery coach to be embedded within KCJ for the Community Recovery Program.

After that contract was approved, McKeand presented the second contract, for $26,000 per year, for therapeutic programs at the prison that would be provided by Bowen Health.

“Their therapist came in and through the program itself they moved into individual therapies and group therapies,” McKeand said. “This is a program we are developing. It is currently under development. The conversations continue. One of the things that has changed since this agreement was presented to you is that we have spoken to them and they are willing to do the group therapies at a flat rate for the group, which will reduce the individual cost per inmate and that will are reflected once that is all completed.”

The commissioners also unanimously approved that contract.

After the commissioners meeting, McKeand said the CRP has installed resource navigator, Shanna Wallen, and she is doing an excellent job.

“But the next piece to that is the actual peer recovery piece, so we need the peer recovery coaches in the jail, and through the opioid money (settlement money) we have been allowed to actually put two peer recovery coaches in the jail. So what you heard today was the service agreements to enter into an agreement with Bowen Center to actually embed one of those peer recovery coaches. And then on top of that, we have a program that we’re setting up with the Bowen Center where they actually come in and do one-on-one therapy sessions and group therapy sessions with the inmates to try to alleviate some of the issues. we have with substance abuse,” McKeand explained.

The therapy sessions include substance abuse and mental health. Because the funding comes from the opioid settlement, most of it is related to substance abuse, but there are programs underway that also address issues such as anger management, domestic violence and others.

Sheriff Jim Smith said, “The peer recovery coaches are being used across the state, and that’s what they’re finding that really works and resonates with these people who are trying to get to the other side of addiction, is hearing from those who are actively working on recovery.”

He said he could read from a textbook why someone should or shouldn’t do certain things, but what really hits home for those trying to recover from addiction is hearing from those who have already achieved it and are actively working on it. recovery.

“And it’s twofold because it’s just as helpful for those coaches because they’ve found a new passion and a new purpose, if you will, and to continue to thrive for success. It’s nice to see it all come to fruition and it starts in prison, but it will stay there until after they’re released – another person walking with them. Certainly, I don’t do it for them,” Smith said. “I repeat: it is a raising of hands rather than a handing out. And when you put it into perspective like that, this only works for those who are willing to receive it. So we will lend a hand all day to help you, but we can’t do it for you.

If an inmate wants to participate in the therapy sessions, McKeand says they have to ask. He said the program runs through the resource navigator, who is in contact with the inmate population. It determines their willingness to change something in their lives and change their outcome.

“They actually end up in the program. They have a questionnaire that they fill out where they indicate that they want to participate, that they want to take a step forward and that they want to change something in their lives,” he said.

It will be slightly different for every individual. There are no criteria they must meet. The prisoners are asked to make changes in their lives. The prison sets up the programs and people so that if an inmate really wants to make a change, he or she can.

“It’s still up to them to do it. We just give them the opportunity to participate, and give them the tools to actually make those things happen,” McKeand said.

He couldn’t say how far the $26,000 will go for therapy sessions, but Bowen Health has been very cooperative in the extent to which they are willing to go into the jail and offer the sessions. About the group sessions, McKeand said Bowen Health originally talked about per-participant billing, but then changed that to per-session billing, which will significantly reduce costs.

“It helps us a lot, but it’s a big olive branch from the Bowen Center to say they’re going to do that. It is definitely a joint effort,” said McKeand.

He said throughout the CRP, as it develops, they are trying to gather information to show that it is worth the province funding it.

“It is an effective solution to have this program. This involves many benchmarks. Our prison population is one – tracking how often people return to our facility, reducing that would be huge,” McKeand said. “If you really keep those people off those substances, that will reduce crime in the community because what we’re finding is that drug use is causing a lot of our crime. So if you tackle one, it will have positive effects in other places too. That is the hope.”