What is EPICS-II?

Effective Practices in Correctional Settings-II is a training model to assist staff in learning the core correctional practices (CCPs). Recent research has indicated that incorporating aspects of the CCPs in both institutional and community based supervision can impact offenders’ behavior and consequently public safety. This skill based training instructs staff in a series of supervision techniques to use in their daily interactions with defendants and offenders to build a therapeutic alliance, shape behavior, and develop a relapse prevention plan with offenders. EPICS-II is a present-focused, collaborative, and individualized approach targeting current factors that put the offender at risk.

How does EPICS-II align with other programs and services? EPICS-II serves as a compliment to an array of programs and services an agency may already be offering such as cognitive-behavioral programs, substance abuse treatment, domestic violence programs, sex offender treatment, and employment programs. While most programming is delivered by contract providers, EPICS-II is intended be used by the front-line corrections professional in each interaction with an offender. EPICS-II can be used to reinforce what offenders are learning in other programs. Additionally, EPICS-II skills compliment, rather than conflict with, other communication skills an officer may be learning.

Training Description:

Staff who utilize the EPICS-II skills can:

Maximize behavioral change opportunities with offenders,

Use relationship skills to effectively apply reinforcement, disapproval, punishment and authority,

Utilize cognitive restructuring techniques to address anti-social cognitions with their offenders,

Incorporate relapse prevention and collaborative problem solving techniques to help offenders learn to reduce their risk,

Identify skill deficits and use a structured learning approach to help develop the necessary skills to impact successful outcomes,

Increase dosage hours in a meaningful way to meet the individual needs of the offender.

Duration:

3-5 classroom days

Target Audience:

Local, state, and federal adult and juvenile corrections staff who have offender interactions in either the community or residential settings.

Follow up training and support: (Optional)

Booster sessions (on-site or web-based)

Audio/Video tape review and coaching

Coaches’ Training and Support

Train the Trainer

What is IBIS?

Integrated Behavioral Intervention Strategies (IBIS) consists of three main components: motivational interviewing, EPICS-II, and incentives and sanctions. While each individual component is heavily based on the research, IBIS represents a novel approach by integrating all three into a comprehensive set of practices. During the training participants learn basic motivational interviewing skills to utilize within the framework of the core correctional practices (EPICS-II). The IBIS skills help staff develop rapport, increase motivation to change, provide intentional interventions aimed at changing offender behavior, and identify and address skill deficits. IBIS represents a collaborative, and individualized evidence based approach to target current factors that put the client at risk for future criminal behavior. All staff can use these skills across the criminal justice system, in the institution or the in the community, with adult or juvenile offenders.

Training Description:

Staff who utilize the IBIS skills can:

Recognize an offender’s stage of change and “stage match” an appropriate and effective response,

Utilize the core communication skills (OARS) of motivational interviewing to increase an offender’s motivation to change,

Understand the Risk, Need, Responsivity principles and apply the logic to an offender on their caseload,

Use the bridging skills of Effective use of Reinforcement, Effective use of Disapproval and Effective use of Authority to increase change talk and guide the offender toward pro-social behaviors, and

Apply intervention skills of the cognitive model and problem solving to address two of the largest skill deficits in criminal offenders.

Duration:

3-5 classroom days

Target Audience:

local, state, and federal adult and juvenile corrections staff who have offender interactions in either the community or residential settings.

Follow up training and support: (Optional)

Booster sessions (on-site or web-based)

Audio/Video tape review and coaching

Coaches’ Training and Support

Train the Trainer

What is STEPS?

Strategies for Effective Pretrial Supervision (STEPS) is a modified version of the core correctional practices designed to assist the pretrial officer in providing supervision and services to pretrial defendants that will promote public safety and increase court appearances. During the STEPS training participants learn how to identify, and respond to, important risk factors to manage the defendant’s risk pending trial.

Training Description:

Staff who utilize the STEPS skills can:

Develop an effective supervision alliance and promote clarity for the defendant,

Understand the risk factors that may impact the defendant’s success while on pretrial release,

Improve the defendant’s likelihood of appearing in court,

Use the bridging skills of Effective use of Reinforcement, Effective use of Disapproval and Effective use of Authority to increase motivation and guide the defendant toward pro-social behaviors, and

Apply intervention skills of the cognitive model and relapse prevention planning to mitigate risks in the pretrial defendant.

Duration:

3-5 classroom days

Target Audience:

local, state, and federal adult pretrial officers and staff working defendants.

Follow up training and support: (Optional)

Booster sessions (on-site or web-based)

Audio/Video tape review and coaching

Coaches’ Training and Support

Train the Trainer

What is the Effective Case Management training?

The Effective Case Management training provides staff with the knowledge and skills to develop individualized case plans based on the principles of Risk, Need, and Responsivity. Through the training participants will learn how to create targeted case plans to improve client outcomes and reduce recidivism.

Training Description:

This program focuses on the following characteristics of effective case management:

Utilizing an empirically based assessment as the officer’s starting point

Understanding the offender’s criminogenic needs and their drivers

Identifying skill deficits

Incorporating stabilizers, or protective factors

Assessing the offender’s stage of change

Matching interventions to the needs of the offender

Monitoring, measuring, and tracking progress and change

Identifying and responding to acute risks

Engaging the offender in the change process.

Duration:

3-5 classroom days

Target Audience:

Local, state, and federal adult and juvenile corrections staff who have offender interactions in either the community or residential settings.

Follow up training and support: (Optional)

Booster sessions (on-site or web-based)

Audio/Video tape review and coaching

Coaches’ Training and Support

Train the Trainer

What is Supervisor’s Training?

This class identifies key elements of effective leadership, supervision, and management in a correctional setting, helps supervisors sharpen their leadership skills, and deepens their knowledge of correctional evidence based practices and how best to support staff in implementing these practices.

Training Description:

This program focuses on developing the following competencies in supervisors:

Basic knowledge and understand of the Principles of Effective Interventions and correctional evidence based practices,

Developing the infrastructure to support sustainability of new initiatives,

Managing successful implementation efforts,

Modeling evidence based practices with staff,

Coaching staff in developing skills,

Promoting staff performance,

Creating a learning environment.

Duration:

2-3 classroom days

Target Audience:

Local, state, and federal adult and juvenile supervisors, managers, team leaders, and executive staff.

Follow up training and support: (Optional)

Booster sessions (on-site or web-based)

Audio/Video tape review and coaching

What is Introduction to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?

This class is designed to help practitioners and criminal justice staff use basic CBT techniques to deter criminal behavior, address substance abuse and other problematic behaviors, and reduce recidivism among adults and juvenile justice involved clients.

Training Description:

Participants who attend the training learn:

The research and theories supporting Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in the criminal justice population,

Simple interventions to correct flawed cognitive behavior processes,

How to help clients make better choices by becoming more cognitively aware,

Teach clients strategies to restructure anti-social cognitions,

Methods for incorporating CBT during individual and group sessions.

Duration:

1-2 classroom day

Audience:

Tailored to a variety of participants including treatment staff, case managers, supervisors, community and institutional staff, and peer supports.