Program Overview, Curriculum, and Delivery

Program Overview 
Strategies for Self-Improvement and Change (SSC) is an interactive, cognitive-behavioral treatment program to motivate change in adults, ages 18 or older, with a history of criminal conduct and substance abuse. SSC looks at the interaction of these conditions in the prevention of AOD relapse and recidivism.

Clients may be in various levels of the judicial system including:

• Diversion
• Pre-sentencing
• Drug court
• Probation
• Parole
• Community Corrections
• Department of Corrections

Program Curriculum 
This facilitator-delivered curriculum includes an evidence-based Provider’s Guide, Participant’s Workbook, and the Progress and Change Evaluation (PACE) Monitor Handbook designed to help providers evaluate the progress of SSC clients. Contact our author team to learn more about becoming an SSC Provider or a Trainer of Trainers.

Program Delivery
SSC uses an integrated, egocentric (focuses on the individual client’s treatment needs) and sociocentric (focuses on developing prosocial and community responsibility attitudes and conduct) approach and is built around three stages of change:

• Phase 1: Challenge to Change: Building Knowledge and Skills for Responsible Living
• Phase 2: Commitment to Change: Strengthening Skills for Self-Improvement, Change, and Responsible Living
• Phase 3: Taking Ownership of Change: Lifestyle Balance and Healthy Living

SSC can be delivered by substance abuse and correctional specialists, counselors or therapists and treatment agencies who meet the qualifications for the delivery of AOD treatment services in the county, state, or jurisdiction in which the provider and/or agency resides. In some states and jurisdictions, providers and agencies have to meet qualifications to deliver treatment services to offender populations.

SSC may be delivered in a closed or open group (rolling admissions format) between 1 – 5 times/week with respect to program phases. When possible, SSC should be delivered over a minimum of a four-month period and preferably over a six to twelve-month period. It is strongly recommended that providers complete the standard three-day training workshop for the delivery of SSC.