Perception Programs, Inc.

Next Step Cottage : Residential

Work Release Treatment Program for Women

Next Step Cottage is a work release and substance abuse treatment program designed to help women re-enter the community after incarceration. There is a strong emphasis placed on increasing independence and responsibility in the community through employment. Additionally, individual and group therapy deal with aspects of a client's life that have led to incarceration, such as substance abuse, criminal thinking, relationship issues, and past traumatic experiences. Next Step/Cottage supplements treatment with twelve step recovery groups designed to provide prosocial and sober support.

Next Step Cottage Program Update 2009

As of July 1, 2009 the name of the program changed to Next Step Cottage to reflect the addition of Cottage Place to the program. This increased the capacity to 25 clients, 18 at Next Step and 7 at Cottage Place. 

Next Step Cottage is funded by the Department of Correction and served 55 women during the 2008-2009 fiscal year.  The average length of stay was 128 days and there was an average of 4 referrals per month.  The balance of cultural diversity was as follows: 51% Caucasian, 33% African American, and 16% Latino.  The Program received a 100% in the Department of Correction standards audit.

Employment continued to be a central focus of the Program, with 100% of the clients obtaining and maintaining employment.  A Token Economy system was implemented with the residents to increase positive behaviors.  Residents had a positive response and seem eager to make new attempts to demonstrate positive, prosocial behaviors.  There continues to be an emphasis placed on treatment, with groups targeting criminal thinking, substance abuse, and trauma treatment.  Education continues to be encouraged with several residents taking the GED test and several attending QVCC.  We partnered with a program through Generations to offer a 13 week smoking cessation program.  Clients participated in activities in the recovery community, with local churches and attended cultural events at ECSU and UCONN

Charitable organizations (Altrusa, Community Foundation of the Tri-County Area’s Women and Girls Fund and the Wally Lamb Foundation, Guilford Smith CharitableTrust) all contributed monetarily, allowing us to improve the Program in various ways.  We were able to provide literary speakers throughout the year, purchase various reading materials to increase interest, attend functions that foster literacy, and provide increased training for staff in Motivational Interviewing.

Diane Tarricone, Ph.D., joined the agency as the Program Director for Next Step Cottage in September 2009.