NCJ Number
77793
Journal
Journal of Correctional Education Volume: 32 Issue: 4 Dated: (June 1981) Pages: 11-14
Date Published
1981
Length
4 pages
Annotation
The philosophy behind the Managing Independent Living Program for persons approaching a transition from a dependent to an independent lifestyle is described, with particular attention to the program's application to female inmates.
Abstract
The program was developed, implemented, and tested at a State correctional institution for women in the Midwest and was sponsored under Title 1-A of the Higher Education Act of 1965. Its general goals are to help participants develop competencies needed to solve such problems experienced in independent living as the management of resources; the selection, development, and maintenance of a living environment which promotes positive growth for oneself and others; and the provision of basic goods and services. In addition, the program aims to facilitate the psychological adjustment of participants to independence and to encourage their integration into community life through the use of community resources, education programs, career development efforts, and work skills training. Among the skills taught are the abilities to set and achieve goals, develop a decisionmaking process, use resources effectively, interact effectively with others, differentiate controllable from noncontrollable elements in situations, and predict consequences. Group sessions focus on taking stock of where participants are in their lives, where they would like to be, and how they may get there. Alternative lifestyles, expectations of others, and the use of money and other resources also receive attention. Individualized instruction, which may extend over a few weeks or several months, supports and assists participants in applying concepts presented in the group sessions. The instructional staff at the test site included home economics educators who were vocationally licensed as adult consumer homemaking instructors. The program's concepts and processes are also adaptable to other institutionalized populations experiencing a transition to independent community living. A source for the program manual is listed, and a four-item reference list is included along with an illustration of the program's process structure.