Project One-Eighty : Transitional Group

The Intentional Skills Development Group


An Overview

The ISD Group consists of ten modules (sessions), presented over a 5-week period. Each session meets for 90 minutes and uses games, props, short self-tests and group interaction to help clients learn about making healthy choices.

Module I: Orientation

Participants are introduced to each other, learn what the Intentional Skills development model is, and participate in a self-assessment exercise titled"Are You Where You Want To be?"

Module II: So What's the Problem?

Participants identify what's unique about them as individuals and identify one problem they would like to solve by the end of the workshop. This module focuses on how to tell the difference between the inferential (what we feel about something) and factual (what really exists) nature of a problem.

Module III: The Future Is Open

Participants learn to clarify how their problems can be changed into gifts/goals/needs.

Module IV: The Sky's The Limit

This module is designed to enhance participants' abilities to generate alternatives.

Module V: Evaluating Our Options--The Power to Choose

Partricipants recognize the personal and social standards used in making decisions. They also work on defining their own individual values and understanding the social/personal consequences of decision making.

Module VI: Putting Our Ideas To Work

This module provides first hand experience in developing and implementing an action plan.

Module VII: Another Perspective

An interactive session that involves roleplaying, a film, and observing a situation from a variety of perspectives. This module facilitates participants' abilities to assess a complex social problem from several perspectives.

Module VIII: Putting the Pieces Together

Participants learn to recognize high risk behavior and develop a relapse prevention strategies.

Module IX: Conflict--Choosing to Resolve It

The components of conflict resolution are explored. Participants identify sources of conflict within their own interpersonal relationships and recognize five styles of resolving conflict.

Module X: Looking At Ourselves--A Cause for Celebration

This session celebrates participants' accomplishments with a graduation ceremony and completion certificates for all participants.

Who is eligible to attend?

To be eligible for the ISD Group an individual must:

  • be incarcerated in a Connecticut Department of Correction facility
  • have at least 8 weeks remaining on his/her sentence.
  • be willing to abide by group rules and regulations, which includes mandatoryattendance at all groups.
  • demonstrate a willingness to participate in the group.

Note: At this time, the ISD Group is not offered to women. As the program expands, however, our staff will be looking into the possibility of conducting the group at Niantic Correctional Center.

Participation Agreement

All participants are expected to:

  • stay substance free at least 24 hours before and after each session.
  • respect others when they are speaking
  • ask lots of questions.
  • use "I" statements, not "we" or "you".
  • remember: we are all learning.
  • respect each other's differences.
  • share what they are comfortable sharing.
  • Respect confidentiality: what's said in class--stays in class.

To Join the ISD Group

If you are currently incarcerated in an institution, let your Counselor/Case Manager know of your interest and he/she will evaluate you for participation.

To make a referral to the ISD Group or to receive more information, contact the Group Facilitator of Project One-Eighty at 450-0151.


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