MI/MET and CBT Gang Intervention Materials

Intensive gang intervention programs can also address critical underlying behavioral health and substance abuse issues. Unless addressed, these issues represent continuing high risk factors for criminal and gang activity.

MI/MET

Within the framework of a comprehensive motivational enhancement/motivational interviewing (MI/MET) and cognitive-behavioral therapy-based (CBT-based) gang intervention program, such DSM-IV diagnoses and issues as chemical dependency, conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, anxiety, and depression can be addressed systematically.

Many juvenile justice programs use the NEW FREEDOM resources as a core element in their gang intervention and behavioral health interventions. We work with your organization to tailor the program to your population, program format, and desired outcomes. The attached models illustrate some of the programs we have developed.

We recommend using a core program curriculum (see below) as a foundation and change-based program — before doing intensive gang intervention — or behavioral health intervention. Many individuals who are assigned to these programs may be resistant or otherwise in "pre-contemplation" of change. It may thus be difficult to get them involved in examining significant elements of their behavior without the benefit of a preparation phase. Research indicates that successful intervention programs should provide for significant elements of motivational enhancement therapy (MET) and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Moreover, research indicates that program success also depends on a clear focus on guiding the client to make changes. A useful model is the "Transtheoretical Stages of Change Model" (Prochaska and DiClemente). All of our resources support this model, and have also have been developed to include actual tools to assist staff in using motivational interviewing (MI) techniques!

In addition to the including of MI tools in the actual workbooks and participant activities, the lesson plans or staff counseling resources also include specific suggestions on the use of the included motivational interviewing (MI) tools.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

Many of our programs is based on cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) concepts. Nearly 100 curriculum resources include elements designed to support cognitive restructuring, and are supplemented by dozens of skill-building resources.

Two critical resources, "Functional Thinking" (the CBT series), and "Identifying and Changing Your Stinking Thinking" (the ST series) focus specifically on traditional basic concepts of CBT.

• Functional Thinking (comprehensive CBT series): 10 program elements, with options supporting more than 61 program hours.
• Identifying and Changing Your Stinking Thinking (ST series): more than 62 program elements.

Additional curriculum resources with heavy specific CBT emphasis include:

• Developing Insight series (DI series - 12 workbooks), providing more than 52 program hours of resources. This resource is primarily for use in Behavioral Health and Dual Diagnosis programs.
• Finding Your Direction series; four (4) of the workbooks in this series provide 16 hours of CBT programming.
• Gang Intervention Program series (GG series); seven (7) of the resources in this series provide more than 28 program hours of specific CBT cognitive restructuring activities.
• The behavioral side of CBT is addressed by a comprehensive series: "Coping Skills." The CS series includes 11 workbooks and several supplemental resources (supporting up to 70 hours of programming).

For information on additional CBT elements, please contact us.

Core Programs

We provide several core program options for this purpose:

• Preparation for Treatment materials are designed to support the motivational enhancement (MET) approach, guiding clients from pre-contemplation to contemplation of change.
• Self-Discovery resources Self-Discovery provides an introduction to treatment, material for reducing resistance, and identifying underlying areas of vulnerability. It starts the process of identifying and addressing issues underlying substance abuse and similar dependencies.
• Functional Thinking cognitive-behavioral thinking (CBT) program
• The Phoenix Curriculum, provided different age levels and dosages, from elementary through high school.

These program resources are based on state-of-the-art evidence-based models. They include significant elements of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and motivational enhancement therapy (MET), including specific tools for motivational interviewing (MI) in each of the workbooks. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) promotes re-evaluation of dysfunctional emotions and behaviors to bring about change. Motivational enhancement therapy (MET) seeks to promote change by making the client aware of problems and consequences of behavior. The motivational interviewing (MI) tools we provide are non-confrontational and gently provoke awareness. We can work with you to customize a gang intervention curriculum using cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and motivational enhancement therapy (MET) techniques specifically to the needs of your facility or community program.