Passages

The first clients of Passages were received January 19, 2007.  Eventually, 155 females will occupy the three programs of Passages.   Alternatives, Inc. hired 42 employees to staff the Passages Program and will transfer its administrative offices to this location.  Jan Begger is the Director of Passages and will oversee the operation of the facility.  Ms. Begger has more than eighteen 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 will manage Passages ASC (Assessment and Sanction Center), Rhonda Stennerson, Licensed Addictions Counselor, Lead for Passages ADT (Alcohol and Drug Treatment), and Kristi Forsch, B.S., Operations Supervisor.

Both the Passages ASC and ADT Programs are highly structured, therapeutic communities.  Passages staff have been trained in the Therapeutic Model by the Department of Corrections in Washington State and staff from the Montana Women's Prison.  The Pre-release Program will also adopt this model in the near future.  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. 

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.

Passages ASC: Women's Assessment/Sanction/Revocation Center

Offenders sentenced directly to the Department of Corrections are eligible for immediate placement in the community.  Passages ASC is the first stop for DOC committed offenders who require assessment in order to determine the appropriate level of care and custody.  They will average slightly less than two months in Passages ASC and 95% will be placed in community based treatment programs, pre-release centers, or on probation supervision.  During this stay they receive chemical dependency assessments, mental health services, and medical care.  They also participate in counseling programs to aid preparation for community placement.  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 ASC under a revocation status.  This means that the ASC team will try to salvage 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 resident may then be transferred to the Montana Women's Prison.  Mindy Brookshire, Lead Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, supervises Passages ASC. 

Passages ADT: Women's Chemical Dependency 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 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 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.