Office of Community Corrections

Plans & Services Programs

Kent County OCC is funding eighteen programs which accept referrals from Circuit Court Probation and Pretrial Services during FY 2019. These programs provide a wide range of treatment services which include community service supervision, substance abuse treatment, anger management classes, and sex offender treatment among others.

Funded programs for FY 2019 include:

Case Management

Arbor Circle

Reentry Case Management

Program Manager: Mike Cole
1115 Ball Avenue NE, Building A
Grand Rapids, MI 49505
Phone: (616) 456-8010 ext. 1403

Arbor Circle staff provide case management to high risk and need felony offenders residing in the Reentry Pod at the Kent County Correctional Facility. Eligible offenders must have received a split probation/jail disposition for their felony offense. The case manager will work with the offender during his incarceration to develop a transition/reentry plan. Case managers assist the offender in making connections to such things as stable housing, substance abuse treatment, education, job training, employment and mental health services. Case management services begin while the offender is incarcerated and continue for up to six months following release.

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Education

Alternative Directions

GED Testing

Admissions Coordinator: Natalie Synowicz
1706 S. Division Avenue SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49507
(616) 245-4346

Offenders enrolled in Alternative Directions residential program and participating in GED prep may have the testing portion of the GED program paid for by Kent County OCC. AD residents attend GED classes two or three times per week. Following successful completion of a practice test, the offender will be transported by AD staff to an independent testing site for GED testing.

Court Services

Community CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Treatment)

Program Manager: Kathy Katt
180 Ottawa NW, Suite 2100
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 632-5289

This program provides Cognitive Behavioral Treatment (CBT) to male and female felony offenders and probation violators to help them recognize how their thinking patterns and decisions have led to their criminal behaviors. They practice different ways of thinking that will help them avoid future criminal activities. Each participant must attend an orientation session and 8 gender specific groups.

In-Jail GED Program

Instructor: Lanny Bastos
703 Ball Ave. NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 327-9817

Through a collaborative effort by OCC and the Kent County Sheriff’s Department, sentenced male and female felony offenders serving a term of incarceration at the Kent County Correctional Facility and lacking a high school diploma may be eligible to receive GED preparation and testing. Tutoring is provided two to four days per week and testing is done online in the jail by an independent tester.

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Employment & Training

Alternative Directions

Partnership for Change (P4C)

Admissions Coordinator: Natalie Synowicz
1706 South Division Avenue
Grand Rapids, MI 49507
(616) 245-4346

Partnership for change (P4C) is a collaborative program between Alternative Directions (AS), Hope Network and area employers who need dependable workers. The program is offered to residents of AD who have a history of vocational problems and would benefit from a structured program to help them eliminate barriers to obtaining and maintaining employment. Participants will attend a two-day employment readiness course, begin 2nd shift employment with one of the P4C employment partner employers (with transportation to and from work provided by AD) and attend 36 life skills group sessions focusing on topics that have a significant impact on employment retention. They will meet regularly with a Job Coach from Hope Network and a Reentry Specialist from AD.

Women's Resource Center

New Beginnings Gender Specific Program

Program Manager: Michelle Bryk
678 Front Ave. Suite 180
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
(616) 458-5443

Women participating in the Reentry Pod at the Kent County Jail are given the opportunity to participate in the New Beginnings program which provides employability classes, reentry planning and mentoring during incarceration. Women will receive transitional and traditional job placement or job search support, continuing education, and contact with their mentor once they are in the community. Women serving a term of probation in the community may participate in the New Beginnings program and receive the same services.

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Mental Health

Family Outreach Center

Anger Management Program

Program Manager: Shelly Seasly
1939 S. Division Avenue
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 247-3815

The Anger Management Program provides cognitive behavioral based group counseling to sentenced male and female offenders with anger management problems. The program helps the offender identify anger management issues and learn anger management skills and alternatives to anger. Group sessions are designed to illustrate the key conceptual components of the program, be interactive, and include weekly homework assignments for the group participants.

Catholic Charities West Michigan

Batterer’s Intervention Program

Program Manager: Lona VanLoozennoord
40 Jefferson Avenue SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 855-5920

CCWM's Co-occurring program is a group-based program serving offenders who have a need for both mental health and substance abuse treatment. The program consists of assessment, group treatment, individual treatment (as needed) and discharge planning. Offenders will be placed into a group setting after a psychosocial assessment and an individualized treatment plan is completed for each client. Individual sessions will be used based on individual need of each offender and to complete a Safety/Relapse Prevention Plan to wrap up the offender’s treatment.

Catholic Charities West Michigan

Co-Occuring Program

Program Manager: Elizabeth Harsevoort
40 Jefferson Avenue SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 356-6231

CCWM's Co-occurring program is a community based program serving offenders who have a need for both mental health and substance abuse treatment. The program consists of assessment, group treatment, individual treatment (as needed) and discharge planning. Offenders will be placed into a group setting after a psychosocial assessment and an individualized treatment plan is completed for each client. Individual sessions will be used based on individual need of each offender and to complete a Safety/Relapse Prevention Plan to wrap up the offender’s treatment.

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OUIL 3rd Programs

Grand Rapids Counseling Services

OUIL 3rd Assessment

Sean Robinson
2400 Eastern Ave. SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49507
(616) 988-3433
grcounseling.com

This program provides a substance abuse assessment at the PSI stage for offenders who are convicted of an OUIL 3rd offense. The assessment will result in a recommended level of care based on ASAM criteria. The results of the assessment will be used to complete the PSI report and help guide sentencing recommendations and program referrals for offenders. Assessments can be done at the Kent County Correctional Facility or at Grand Rapids Counseling Services.

61st District Court

Sobriety Court

Jeanette Boggiano
180 Ottawa NW, Suite 2200
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 632-5625

The Sobriety Court Program provides assessment, case management, drug and alcohol testing, and individualized treatment programming to assist eligible male and female OUIL 3rd offenders in overcoming his/her addiction to alcohol. This 12-18 month program is designed for offenders who need a structured intensive program and have a willingness to receive treatment for their addiction in order to avoid a lengthy jail sentence. The program requires the offender to meet frequently with the Sobriety Court Judge to assess their progress and impose sanctions for any violations.

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Pretrial Services

Court Services

Regular Pretrial Supervision

Tim Bouwhuis
180 Ottawa NW, Suite 2100
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 632-5350

Regular Pretrial Supervision provides assessment, referral services (such as substance abuse, mental health, and educational services), monitoring services, including random drug and alcohol testing, and reporting services for male and female pretrial defendants who are released from the Kent County Correctional Facility on a conditional bond. Defendants will report to their Pretrial Supervision case manager to monitor bond conditions, residence, and provide notification of upcoming court dates. Pretrial Supervision case managers provide reporting services to the Kent County Circuit Court Judiciary and to the Circuit Court Probation PSI writers.

Court Services

Maximum Pretrial Supervision

Tim Bouwhuis
180 Ottawa NW, Suite 2100
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 632-5350

Maximum Pretrial Supervision provides the same type of services that the Regular Pretrial Supervision Program but does so under more intense supervision. Pretrial defendants under maximum pretrial supervision are required to wear an electronic device which provides for 24-hour monitoring of these defendants. The defendant will meet with their Pretrial Supervision case manager several times a week either by telephone or face-to-face meetings.

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Sex Offender Treatment

Berghuis Psychological Services

Sex Offender Treatment

David Berghuis
436 – 44th St. SE, Suite C
Kentwood, MI 49548
(616) 340-4946

This is an evidenced based treatment program for felony offenders serving a term of probation for a Criminal Sexual Conduct offense or other offense that is sexual in nature. Following both a psychosocial and risk assessment specific to sex offenders such as Static-99, Stable-2007 or Acute-2009, most offenders will be required to participate in weekly 120-minute gender specific group sessions that are based in cognitive behavioral treatment. Individual therapy and family counseling is also available. Program length varies based on the individual but usually lasts 6 - 9 months. Berghuis Psychological Services begins treatment, when possible, in the Kent County Correctional Facility serving a split sentence with treatment services continuing once they are released into the community.

Homeward Bound

Sex Offender Treatment

Ron Grooters
436 – 44th St. SE, Suite C
Kentwood, MI 49548
(616) 560-0019

Homeward Bound provides evidenced based treatment to offenders convicted of a Criminal Sexual Conduct offense or similar sexual behavior problem. Each offender will receive both a psychosocial and risk assessment specific to sex offenders such as Static-99, Stable-2007 or Acute-2009 to craft an individual treatment plan. Treatment usually consists of group sessions but individual therapy, family therapy and couples counseling is available as needed. Groups are gender specific and meet weekly for 6 – 12 months depending on the level of treatment needed. Homeward Bound offers additional in-depth sex offender specific risk assessments such as post-conviction polygraph exams and ABLE assessments.

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Substance Abuse Treatment

Arbor Circle

Intensive Outpatient Treatment

Emmy Ellis
1115 Ball NE, Building C
Grand Rapids, MI 49505
(616) 459-7215 ext. 1250

Arbor Circle provides Intensive Outpatient Programming (IOP) for the substance abusing offender at Alternative Directions (AD) residential center. The structured environment at AD will remove barriers such as transportation and attendance that traditionally hinder the completion of other substance abuse programs. IOP provides 60 hours of group sessions vs. 12 -22 hours of group sessions in other outpatient programs. Group sessions will be 3 hours in length and will meet 3 times per week. A total of 20 sessions must be attended to complete the program. During the sessions participants will be taught cognitive behavioral skills, relapse prevention techniques and early recovery skills. Arbor Circle will also provide an after-care plan with recommendations for step-down services in the community.

Arbor Circle

Relapse Prevention

Cathy Worthem
1115 Ball Avenue NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49505
(616) 459-7215

Arbor Circle provides group-based substance abuse programming coupled with peer recovery coaching for felony offenders housed within the Kent County Correctional Facility. Each offender will be assessed using ASAM criteria and will receive an individualized plan to address their specific reentry needs. Treatment is based in CBT and will provide offenders with the basic understandings of addiction and their own personal use patterns. The goals of treatment include increasing the offender’s knowledge of relapse and recidivism, restructuring the individual’s cognitive and behavioral patterns, and planning for reentry into the community. Groups meet once per week for 90 minutes each for up to eight weeks. The Peer will begin meeting with the offender in the jail and will continue to meet in the community to assist with the offender’s transition into the community.

Catholic Charities of West Michigan

Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment

Priscilla Kern
40 Jefferson Avenue SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616)356-6231

Catholic Charities West Michigan (CCWM) provides outpatient substance abuse treatment to sentenced male and female felony offenders and probation violators. Following an assessment to determine the appropriate level of treatment, offenders are placed in a group according to their needs with groups meeting an average of 8 to 15 sessions. Groups are 1.5 hours in length and meet in the morning, afternoon, and evening to provide flexibility for offenders. CCWM utilizes a curriculum tailored toward the criminally minded substance abusing offender that is grounded in Cognitive Behavioral Techniques, Motivational Interviewing, and Cognitive Restructuring.