Passages

The first clients of Passages were received January 19, 2007.  Eventually, 155 females will occupy the three units of Passages.   Alternatives, Inc. hired 42 employees to staff the Passages Program and transferred its administrative offices to this location.  Jan Begger is the Director of Passages and oversees the operation of the facility.  Ms. Begger has more than twenty years experience in corrections and is a Licensed Addictions Counselor.  She holds a Masters Degree in Management from the University of Mary. 

Joining Ms. Begger in managing Passages are Kelly Mortensen, B.S., Lead Case Manager for the Pre-release Center program, Mindy Brookshire, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, who manages Passages ASRC (Assessment, Sanction, Revocation, and Hold Center), Rhonda Stennerson, Licensed Addictions Counselor, Lead for Passages ADT (Alcohol and Drug Treatment), and Kristi Forsch, B.S., Assistant Director.

All Passages units utilize therapeutic communities.  The concept of Therapeutic Community has been utilized in the treatment of chemical dependency for approximately 40 years.  Over time, this concept has been adopted by correctional systems in order to provide a “chain of communication” among inmates that helps to reinforce a drug-free lifestyle along with acceptance of personal and community responsibilities.  Each offender is assigned to a crew; crews include: Environment, Expeditor, Business, Education, Motivation and Orientation.  While on a crew, the individual learns how to interact effectively with peers, builds self-respect and self-esteem, and completes necessary tasks within the community.  The programs are designed to instill the concept of “Right Living”.  Right Living is obtained by changing unhealthy behaviors and thoughts to healthy ones. 

In 2009, Passages began utilizing Skype for inmate visitation.  Please contact the center for more information.

If you are a Montana state employee who needs to contact a client's case manager, please click here.

Passages PRC: Women's Pre-release Center

This 65 bed residential facility occupies the first floor of the Passages facility located at 1001 South 27th Street.  During their six month stay these offenders hold employment, participate in treatment groups and life skills training, and are supervised on a twenty-four hour per day basis.  Kelly Mortensen is the Lead Case Manager overseeing the day to day operation of Passages PRC.

Visiting hours for the pre-release center are as follows:  Monday through Friday 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.; Saturday 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.; Sunday 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Passages ASRC: Women's Assessment/Sanction/Revocation/Hold Center

Offenders sentenced directly to the Department of Corrections are eligible for immediate placement in the community.  Passages ASRC is the first stop for DOC committed offenders who require assessment in order to determine the appropriate level of care and custody.  This program also provides services to DOC committed offenders violating the conditions of community placement, offering a sanction placement for up to 90 days. 

When a female offender is revoked from a community placement such as pre-release, ISP, or a treatment program by a hearings officer, she may be sent to ASRC under a revocation status.  This means that the ASRC team will try to obtain another community program either with the original placement or at another appropriate community placement.  If such a placement cannot be found within 120 days, the offender may then be transferred to the Montana Women's Prison. 

The fourth program offered at ASRC is the Hold program.  This program offers inmates of the Montana Women's Prison the opportunity to live on the ASRC unit, perform daily work duties and earn a modest wage while awaiting community placement.  During this stay, residents receive chemical dependency assessment, mental health assessment and services, and basic medical care.  They also participate in treatment programs to aid preparation for community placement.  These programs consist of Matrix chemical dependency group, Responsible Living, Dialectic Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Principles and Restructuring (CP&R), Anger Management, Victimology, and Grief Group. 

ASRC is also fortunate to have a number of community programs come into the facility such as the Avon Breast Grant educators, RiverStone Health educational programs, Planned Parenthood presentations, Cancer 101 with the Billings Clinic, Celebrate Recovery, music appreciation, pet therapy, and Zumba.  A wonderful addition to our services offered at ASRC is the volunteer Chaplain Jack Coward who after retiring from working as a military chaplain and as a jail chaplain, is helping individuals grow spiritually in their religion of choice. 

They will average slightly more than one month in Passages ASRC and 95% will be placed in community based treatment programs, pre-release centers, or on probation supervision.  

Mindy Brookshire, Lead Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, supervises Passages ASRC. 

Passages ADT: Alcohol and Drug Treatment Program

Up to 94% of offenders placed in pre-release centers have chemical dependency issues.  Sixty-five percent of women offenders are addicted to or have used methamphetamine.  Passages ADT is a 60-day, 40 bed chemical dependency treatment program for women offenders scheduled for release to Montana's communities.  Rhonda Stennerson, Lead Licensed Addictions Counselor, manages Passages ADT which is located on the third floor of the facility.  Also included in Passages ADT are sanction beds; these accommodate the referrals of probation and parole officers who want the offender to complete Passages ADT as the individual's sanction for a probation violation and return to their prior placement when complete.  A minimum of four beds are reserved for this purpose at all times.  In June, 2008 in conjunction with the Department of Corrections, Passages began a Pilot Project on the Alcohol and Drug Treatment Unit.  The project involved extending the program to 90 days and including treatment in the following areas: mental health, relationships, trauma, and expanding the Native American curriculum.  There are nine beds available for the 90-day treatment process. 

In June In December of 2007 Passages ADT Program was selected, through a Request for Proposal, to provide Short Term Residential Treatment services for Federal defendants and offenders. 

In 2007, with the help of the County Extension Office, a garden was added at Passages.  The residents in the ADT Program have been a part of the garden since then and are able to spend time each week tending to this garden.  The garden was named "New Visions" by the first residents of the Passages Program. 

Visiting hours for the Alcohol and Drug Treatment program are as follows: Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.  All visiting for this unit must be approved in advance by Passages personnel.