Program Phases
Our program is a court supervised therapeutic community that allows participants to address their chemical dependencies and mental health issues in order to modify their behavior while building positive relationships with their families and community.
Phase I
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Assessment and Orientation is a minimum of 20 weeks. Residents complete orientation and any other assessments needed to develop a treatment plan. Assessments may include but are not limited to, chemical dependency, medical, mental health, education, and employment. During this period, residents will be assigned a senior resident (Big Brother/Big Sister) to assist with any questions concerning program rules and procedures. After an initial restriction period, residents may be eligible for phone privileges and visitation.
Phase II
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Stabilization and Rehabilitation is a minimum of 16 weeks. Residents work on treatment plans and attend group therapy and individual counseling. Treatment services are delivered through didactic approaches, including psycho-education, addiction treatment, medication group, relapse prevention, and coping strategies. Cognitive therapy and motivational interviewing are integrated with a 12-step-based recovery program. Our therapeutic community also incorporates vocational training, educational/GED training, life skills, cognitive-behavioral interventions, and community service work. During this phase, residents are slowly integrated into the community by attending outside recovery support group meetings.
Phase III
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Re-Entry and Employment is a minimum of 12 weeks. Residents begin the process of reintegration into the community by establishing financial independence. They secure and maintain full-time employment or vocational training and may continue educational pursuits. Residents are required to establish a budget and meet financial obligations, including payment of an income-based fee to offset the cost of DC4 operations. Residents also develop an initial Aftercare plan with their counselor.
Aftercare
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Aftercare, or transition, is a minimum of 9 months. Upon successful completion of the three-phase residential program, residents transition to Aftercare. They are placed in transitional housing away from the DC4 campus and return to DC4 weekly for group and individual therapy.
Phases of the DC4 Program
DC4 employs five full-time Counselors to provide individualized treatment to program participants. A Clinical Supervisor oversees the counseling staff. Treatment services are generally delivered in four discrete phases.
Three Counselors serve Phase I and 2 residents, an Employment Case Manager serves Phase 3 residents, and one Counselor serves Aftercare participants. All participants are drug tested throughout the program.
The Presiding Drug Court Judge also conducts status hearings with each participant every two weeks to assess their progress.
Key Program Facts
Purpose
Program participants with a history of substance use issues, who would typically be sentenced to prison, agree to participate in two-year program in which they receive a full continuum of residential, intensive outpatient and transitional treatment, and related services. Participants are treated in a specialized long-term residential drug treatment facility dedicated solely to individuals who are enrolled in the recovery court.
Eligibility
Applicant must qualify for participation in a drug court treatment program under Tenn. Code Ann. § 16-22-101 et seq.
Applicant must be a non-violent offender with no prior convictions for felony crimes of violence, domestic assault, or sex offenses.
Applicant must meet the criteria for substance use disorder.
Applicant must affirmatively express an interest in the DC4 Program and agree to follow all DC4 rules and policies. Participation in the program is voluntary.
Applicant must be approved for placement in DC4 by the District Attorney General and sentencing Judge in the county of conviction.
Applicant must be approved for participation by the DC4 Assessment Team, the DC4 Program Director, and the DC4 Presiding Judge.
