Licensed professionals staff the treatment component of ACTT, with advanced degrees in mental health, family and marriage therapy, and social work. Our staff has extensive experience and training in mental health, substance abuse treatment, domestic violence, anger control, and parenting skills.

We provide curriculum based, community based groups on Parenting Skills, Anger Management for non-domestic violence cases, Life Skills groups, substance abuse education and treatment groups. ACTT is certified by DCF to provide substance abuse treatment.

In October 2001, the Advocate Center for Training and Treatment was awarded a contract with the United States Probation and Pre Trial Services to provide Substance Abuse and Mental health Treatment for USPO clients. In January 2002 we were awarded a contract with Florida Department of Corrections to provide substance abuse and mental health treatment to probationers.

The Advocate Program, Inc. has been “creating” ex-offenders for thirty years.

Through our involvement with the International Community Corrections Association (ICCA) and the American Probation and Parole Association (APPA), we have been a major partner in advocating the “What Works” agenda in correctional treatment.

“What Works” is a term used nationally by correctional agencies in reference to research principles and practices common to effective public safety and offender programming. Through a meta-analysis of correctional treatment programs, Gendreau & Andrews (1990), have shown clearly that offenders, especially substance abusers, share many of the following attributes:

· Anti-social attitudes, values, and beliefs (criminal thinking)
· Pro-criminal associates and isolation from pro-social associates
· Particular temperament and behavioral characteristics (e.g., egocentrism)
· Weak problem-solving and social skills
· Criminal history
· Negative family factors
· Criminality/substance abuse in the family
· Low levels of vocational and educational skills
· Substance abuse

Effective treatment should be guided by the principles that are known to maximize their effectiveness (Gendreau & Andrews):

· Target the criminogenic risk and need emphasizing a clear understanding of criminal logic
· Incorporate the principle of Responsivity (matching the treatment and learning style of the offender)
· Be cognitive behavioral in nature and incorporate social-learning practices
· Incorporate a balanced integrated approach to sanctions and interventions
· Have therapeutic integrity

Finally, it must be emphasized that ACTT is not just a treatment provider but it is a correctional treatment agency. Our thirty years of experience as a corrections agency has taught us the importance of the communication link between correctional agencies and treatment providers. We know what correctional agencies need in terms of feedback and frequency of feedback.

We also understand that just as corrections officers are “partners” in the treatment process, treatment providers need to be “partners” in the supervision process. We understand our role in reinforcing rules and regulations and providing solid role modeling in the social learning process.