Program Success of Mental Health Clients in Day Reporting Centers

Abstract

Day-reporting centers (DRCs) provide programming for probationers with a history of non-compliant behavior related to substance abuse, who are overrepresented among justice-involved men and women. While evaluations of DRCs demonstrate some effectiveness, results are mixed and less is known about predictors of program success. This evaluation compared indicators of program success between adult offenders with a substance use disorder (n = 144) and those with co-morbid mental illness (n = 113) at three DRCs. Analyses examined differences between and within groups on program completion, personal characteristics and subjective measures of well-being. Results indicated that program completers were more likely to be participants with substance use disorders only and to have a drug-related referring charge. No significant differences between groups on most measures of well-being were observed. Future investigations should consider tracking program dropouts to better understand program attrition and explore readiness to change in treatment programming.

An Assessment of Program Eligibility Among Participants in Day Reporting Centers

“…One common issue noted among participants from these early programs was a need for increased counseling for substance use. By implementing substance use counseling, enhancing opportunities for education, and increasing substance use monitoring, these early programs shifted models from prior day reporting programs into DRCs, which provide enhanced, community-based supervision for individuals with higher substance use counseling needs (McGregor et al 2016).…”

“…As individuals progress through DRC programing, supervision levels gradually decrease, which are intended to serve as a reward for participants (Parent, 1995). In their efforts to provide needed services to participants, DRCs offer in-house or contracted services including GED classes, life skills training, housing counseling, therapeutic services, alcohol and drug counseling, and mental health services (McGregor et al, 2016; Mowbray et al, 2019).…”