Excellent points about problems ex-offenders face, Mr. Dempsey. Improving all aftercare is essential. I would also ask for more information about how inmates spend their time while INSIDE... while incarcerated and while under supervision, what kind of programs are offered and not simply offered, but REQUIRED. Like most areas of industry, the better outcomes are usually a product of evidence based curriculum and programming which usually evolves out of competitive environments. The core of Tennessee's programming comes from two sources: The A&D field and the Cognitive Behavioral oriented / classroom-taught curriculum known as Thinking for a Change. Of course, we know the value of addiction and recovery work, yet, the T4C program's value is still unknown. I have not seen evidence based support for it yet it remains correction's baby. For instance, there are other avenues for getting education across to individuals (many of whom have learning disabilities) other than the typcial classroom-esque (the Greek teaching model). There are other forms of therapy that when mixed with Cognitive Behavioral garner powerful responses and results. I would like to see professionals from the psychological and academic communities asked to bring in and try other kinds of evidence based therapeutic interventions and approaches. The doors could open up to allow for this kind of improvement which stem from competition of services.
Chattanooga: Coming Home
Excellent points about problems ex-offenders face, Mr. Dempsey. Improving all aftercare is essential. I would also ask for more information about how inmates spend their time while INSIDE... while incarcerated and while under supervision, what kind of programs are offered and not simply offered, but REQUIRED. Like most areas of industry, the better outcomes are usually a product of evidence based curriculum and programming which usually evolves out of competitive environments. The core of Tennessee's programming comes from two sources: The A&D field and the Cognitive Behavioral oriented / classroom-taught curriculum known as Thinking for a Change. Of course, we know the value of addiction and recovery work, yet, the T4C program's value is still unknown. I have not seen evidence based support for it yet it remains correction's baby. For instance, there are other avenues for getting education across to individuals (many of whom have learning disabilities) other than the typcial classroom-esque (the Greek teaching model). There are other forms of therapy that when mixed with Cognitive Behavioral garner powerful responses and results. I would like to see professionals from the psychological and academic communities asked to bring in and try other kinds of evidence based therapeutic interventions and approaches. The doors could open up to allow for this kind of improvement which stem from competition of services.