The Change Companies®’ substance abuse education and treatment approach is among the most widely replicated behavioral change models in the U.S. It is an evidence-based, client-centered, change-focused approach. The model is founded upon leading empirical research on achieving positive lifestyle change among populations engaged in high-risk behaviors. The model incorporates prevailing research on enhancing client motivation and commitment to change thinking and behavior.

 

Collaboration with state and federal program directors and hundreds of local practitioners also informs the program development process. Annual revisions are completed on most materials to integrate local feedback and new research findings. The evidence base for the design and implementation of The Change Companies’ approach to offender education and treatment programs falls into five primary categories:

 

1. Empirical Behavioral Change Research

The Change Companies®’ programs are built upon the most widely recognized and empirically validated behavioral change research available. This includes the research on the Transtheoretical Model of Change, Cognitive Behavioral Interventions and Motivational Enhancement Therapy. The findings of this research stem from peer-reviewed, replicated, randomized controlled studies that have been recognized by the National Institute for Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention as the best available approach for modifying behaviors with regard to substance abuse and high-risk behaviors associated with substance use.

 

2. Engaging Participants and Helping Them Apply Information For Behavior Change

The Change Companies®’ programs are designed not only to enable programs to implement the leading behavioral change research, but to do so in a way that is accessible, meaningful, useful and motivational for the program participant. Often, “risk education” and offender education programs fail to recognize that the information they provide is not useful unless the program participant finds reason and method to apply the information to their daily lives. To this end, The Change Companies approach focuses considerable attention on “what works for the program participant.” Program design focuses on what tools participants will find useful, and which tools will best motivate and guide the individual toward meaningful application of the information presented. This is the sole purpose of Interactive Journaling, a process developed and refined in partnership with researchers and practitioners nationally as well as through feedback from thousands of program participants.  Formal and informal studies conducted by The Change Companies and partners, as well as numerous peer-reviewed, replicated, randomized controlled studies on journaling for behavioral change constitute the foundation for this approach. As research and practice yield new discoveries, these findings are also incorporated. It is important, also, to note that this research guides both the development of participant materials as well as the delivery of the curriculum as directed through facilitator materials.

 

3. National best practice, expertise and experience

The Change Companies®’ offender education and treatment programs incorporate the best practices and feedback from practitioners and program directors nationally, including clinical directors from the Federal Bureau of Prisons and directors of 24 different state standardized offender intervention programs. Since individual programs and participant needs vary widely, The Change Companies has always believed that there is no “one size fits all” approach to offender education and treatment programs. Instead, the Change Companies work with program directors to tailor combinations of program materials to meet particular state requirements, while ensuring fidelity to the underlying body of behavioral change research and

incorporating best practices from other programs across the country.

 

4. Program outcomes and recidivism data

The offender education and treatment programs are supported by statistical research that validates the effectiveness of the approach in changing knowledge, behavior and recidivism outcomes. These studies include an independent, randomized controlled study from Emory University, a seven-year recidivism study conducted by researchers using the Wisconsin State Database system, and tabulation of pre-/post test data from thousands of participants which measure knowledge change and reported attitude change.

 

5. On-going research and development

The offender education and treatment programs are continuously enhanced through a collaborative development process with researchers and program directors. Thus, this approach evolves with the research to help ensure that the programs have incorporated the leading research and findings about what works for behavioral change. The Change Companies actively support and participate in third-party empirical research and are engaged in a number of different outcome studies with major partners at this time.