Transitional Point “CHOICES” Program

 

Changing How Our Individual Choices Effects Society

The Transitional Point "C.H.O.I.C.E.S." Program is a comprehensive residential initiative tailored for individuals with a history of offending. Its primary aim is to support positive adaptation within institutional settings and promote successful reintegration into society. It achieves this by targeting the cessation of drug dependency, as well as the identification and management of mental health issues and various forms of antisocial behavior.

The CHOICES Program is a residential treatment initiative that mandates participants to reside in a specified housing unit. By cohabiting in this unit, inmates collaborate on tasks, engage in programming activities, and undergo processing collectively. This fosters a communal environment that encourages positive social behaviors, collective accountability, and social responsibility through peer support and adherence to strict standards of conduct.

The CHOICES Program operates under a structured framework comprising programming modules, group activities, individual work/study sessions, community service, and journaling activities. The duration of the program typically ranges from 3 to 9 months, tailored to the individual needs of participants. They are required to engage in a specified number of hours per day of documented programming and hours per week of community service and peer support.

Given that the average work period in TDCJ is 4 hours, resulting in considerable leisure time, the CHOICES Program is strategically designed to minimize idle hours. This is achieved by maximizing available resources and opportunities through a disciplined and efficient time management regimen. The program encompasses various modules and phases, including initial intake, placement, orientation, emotional maturity, anger management, substance abuse awareness, conflict resolution, parenting/family communication, leadership, mentoring, and individual and collective accountability.

CHOICES represents an intensive behavior modification initiative aimed at dismantling antisocial and criminal thought patterns and behaviors associated with recidivism. Through targeted exercises and activities, participants are guided in "unlearning" these destructive patterns with the support of their peers. The overarching objective is to initiate a continuous process of change rooted in peer-supported prison reform. By addressing prevalent prison paradigms rooted in street culture and gang philosophy, the program assists residents in identifying and confronting these detrimental patterns, fostering personal growth and rehabilitation.

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) has made significant strides in transforming the rehabilitation culture. Abdul aspires to contribute to this ongoing progress. Within TDCJ, individuals like Abdul possess valuable career experience in life skills coaching, peer mentoring, and conflict resolution. Developing impactful therapeutic programs and selecting suitable peer coaches should be prioritized alongside recruiting experienced staff for all TDCJ positions.

The success attained through programs like Transitional Point, C.M.A., and Peaceful Solutions underscores the importance of having knowledgeable coordinators proficient in these domains. They play a vital role in driving positive outcomes and facilitating meaningful change within the TDCJ system.

The Transitional Point CHOICES Program will feature:

  • The Transitional Point Reentry/Mentorship Program "Returning to Make a Difference": This dual-phase initiative addresses the redirection of incarcerated individuals and provides support for their families. It focuses on healing and repairing the impacts of incarceration, reshaping the mindset of those incarcerated, and preparing them for successful reentry into society.

Phase 1 of Transitional Point covers:

  1. Self-evaluation/Behavior modification

  2. Cultural diversity

  3. Academic standards and placement

  4. Family relations and communication

  5. Etiquette and social behavior skills

  6. Community awareness and involvement

  7. Business ownership/Financial literacy and responsibility

Phase 2 focuses on transitioning from prison to prosperity and includes an aftercare program. Once we've identified the negative thinking and behavior patterns hindering individual growth and impacting families and society, completion of Transitional Point prepares participants for the Peaceful Solutions Character Educational Development workbook course, which covers:

  1. Character, values, and morals

  2. The effects of character within the family

  3. The making of a V.I.P (Valuable, Important, and Purposeful)

  4. Strategies for maintaining positive character traits

  5. The ripple effect of character on society and the world

  6. Empowerment to make a difference

  7. Lessons learned from the program.

 

Brief Summary of TPP.