Name of Project: An Outcome Evaluation of the
Forever Free Treatment Program for Women
Principal Investigator: Michael Prendergast
Co-Principal Investigator: (if applicable)
Project Director: Elizabeth Hall
Funding Agency: National Institute of Justice
Funding Period: 1999-2002
Scope of Project: Forever Free is an intensive six-month residential treatment program for women inmates with substance abuse problems, followed by community residential treatment in contracted facilities during parole supervision. The UCLA Drug Abuse Research Center conducted an outcome study of the Forever Free Substance Abuse Treatment Program at the California Institution for Women (CIW). The specific objectives of the study were as follows: (1) To compare the 12-month outcomes of Forever Free participants with a comparison sample from the general prison population with regard to parole performance, drug use, employment, and psychological functioning. (2) To determine differential outcomes of Forever Free participants within selected subgroups (defined by time in community residential treatment, primary drug problem, ethnicity, criminal history, child custody/parenting status, psychological functioning, level of therapeutic alliance, treatment readiness, and locus of control). (3) To examine differences between Forever Free women and comparison women with regard to their relationship with their children following release to parole (custody, placement, services received, and reunification). (4) To disseminate project findings to policy makers, researchers, and practitioners in criminal justice and drug treatment.
For more information, contact Michael Prendergast.
Last updated - 04/09/04
Last reviewed - 04/09/04