Tri-County provides adult outpatient services at locations in Lakeland, Winter Haven, Sebring and Wauchula.  Services provided include substance abuse assessment, individual counseling, group counseling, family/couples counseling, alcohol/drug education, and urinalysis drug testing.  Each client, working with their own clinical specialist, develops an individualized treatment plan which specifies the type, frequency, and duration of services most suited to his/her needs.  Length of stays in outpatient services range from three to nine months.

Adolescent Outpatient Services

Adolescent outpatient services are available in Winter Haven, Lakeland, Sebring, and Wauchula.  These services include substance abuse assessment, individual counseling, family counseling, group counseling, alcohol/drug education, and urinalysis drug testing.  An intensive outpatient program is provided at some locations.  Individualized treatment plans are developed with each adolescent with input from the client's parent/guardian.  Parental participation in all aspects of treatment is encouraged.

Florida Center for Addictions and Dual Disorders

The Florida Center for Addictions and Dual Disorders is a 50-bed residential facility for the treatment of adults with co-occurring substance abuse and psychiatric disorders.  This program provides simultaneous treatment of these disorders utilizing individual therapy, group therapy, recreational therapy, and occupational therapy.  The Florida Center accepts referrals from throughout the State of Florida.

Residential Assessment and Stabilization Unit for Women

Tri-County operates a twelve bed assessment stabilization unit for pregnant/postpartum females with substance abuse problems.  Located in Bartow, this facility provides assessment/evaluation of each client's needs in the following areas:

• Substance abuse treatment
• Mental health treatment
• Medical services
• Counseling services
• Financial support services
• Drug-free, safe housing
• Child care services
• Parenting skills
• Vocational and education services

Identification of needs is in the aforementioned areas is accomplished during individual assessment sessions as well as through participation in the self-assessment exercises/discussions in a group setting.  As each client's needs are identified, the client and their primary counselor develop a comprehensive service delivery plan.  Clients are actively involved in the process of making contacts with the community-based programs/services that they will utilize to meet the goals of their service delivery plan.

Winter Haven Halfway House

The Winter Haven Halfway House (Agape House) is an nine bed residential facility for women with substance dependence disorders.  The program provides a structured schedule of activities with a primary emphasis on rehabilitation.  Individual counseling, group counseling, and case management services are provided.  Agape House residents are required to be employed or involved in job training, educational, or employment search activities.

The facility is staffed 24 hours per day by counselors or counselor aides.  Length of stay at the facility is from 3-6 months.  Admissions may be arranged by calling (863) 299-7003.

Lakeland Transitional Living Facility

The Lakeland Transitional Living Facility (Transition House) provides transitional housing for women and their children.  No treatment services are provided, however, a case manager is available to advocate for residents and to assist them with identifying and assessing needed services.  Transition House residents are required to be employed or involved in job training, educational, or employment search activities.  Women may reside at the Transition House for 3-6 months.  Admissions may be arranged by calling (863) 299-7003

Medically Supervised Detoxification

Tri-County's Detoxification Unit provides medically supervised alcohol/drug detoxification to adults residing in Polk, Highlands, and Hardee Counties.  Located in Bartow, this 20-bed facility also provides substance abuse evaluation and referral services.  Length of stays vary from 3-14 days depending upon the detoxification protocol utilized.  Admissions to the Detoxification Unit are accepted 24 hours a day and may be arranged by calling the unit at (863) 533-4139.

DUI Program

Through an agreement with the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Tri-County operates DUI programs in Polk, Highlands, and Hardee Counties.  Florida Statutes dictate that individuals convicted of DUI must participate in a substance evaluation and an approved DUI education Course in order to regain their driving privileges.  Tri-County offers these services at the following locations:

Lakeland - 5421 U.S. Highway 98, South, Highland City
Winter Haven - 37 3rd Street S.W.
Sebring - 5606 U.S. Highway 27 North
Wauchula - 202 S. 9th Avenue

Drug Alcohol Traffic Education

Individuals seeking their initial Florida driver's license must complete five hours of alcohol and drug traffic education.  Tri-County offers this education course at the DUI program locations listed above.  To register by telephone call 863 299-5714 or 1-800-267-4747.

Assessment and Referral

Referrals are accepted on both a voluntary and involuntary basis.  Services are provided without regard to race, religion, national origin, sexual preference, disability/illness, or socio-economic status.

All clients receive a thorough substance abuse evaluation prior to or at the time of admission.  Information gathered during this evaluation is utilized to make treatment recommendations and to developed an individualized treatment plan.  Treatment services are provided in the least restrictive setting possible.  Those clients in need of services not provided by Tri-County are referred to an appropriate resource for these services.

Self-Help Groups

Tri-County Human Services, Inc. acknowledges the importance of self-help groups in the treatment and continuing care programs of individuals with a substance abuse/addiction disorder.  Consistent with this understanding, our treatment teams encourage clients to participate in 12-step programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous.  Many clients receive an introduction to 12-step groups through their involvement in a Tri-County Program.

Prevention Services

Prevention services are provided within schools in Polk, Hardee, and Highlands counties.  The focus is on identifying risk factors displayed by youth within special school populations, followed by provision of educational services to groups within the services setting.

JASA

In-Jail Substance Abuse Treatment Program
Polk County Central Jail
Bartow, Florida

Tri-County Human Services, Inc. manages the State Award Winning JASA program in cooperation with the Polk County Sheriff's Department. We are extremely pleased to have provided treatment for four years to the inmates in the Polk County Jail system. The Polk County Sheriff’s Department and the Board of County Commissioners recognized the increasing costs in drug related criminal behaviors and became proactive in establishing the program to lower the crime rate in Polk County and positively alter the lifestyles of addicts.

The taxpayers of Polk County expect something in return for the dollars spent to provide this program. The JASA Program is highly cost effective. It has saved County and taxpayer funds and has freed space in the existing jails, limiting the need for new facilities. Highlights of the accomplishments of the JASA program include:

• JASA is an award-winning program. In August 2002, the Department of Children and Families and the Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association presented JASA with a Best Practices Award. Recently, during the Florida Correctional Accreditation Commission’s review of the Polk County Jail, JASA was identified as an exemplary program.

• The JASA Program Saves Polk County money.

• The Polk County Sheriff Department reported that the “economic benefit of inmates successfully completing drug treatment is $68,000 per inmate in reduced crime, arrest, prosecution, incarceration, and health care costs.” From January 2002 through March 2003 105 inmates successfully completed the program.

• Independent auditors projected savings to taxpayers of $1,000,000 for every 50 graduates of the program.

• Closing the JASA will cost Polk County and its Taxpayers 1600% more than it would cost to continue to fund the JASA program.

• Independent auditors identified that 67.1% of those individuals that completed the JASA program have remained out of jail compared to only 52.3% of those individual who did not receive JASA services.

• JASA has continued to improve its performance. At this time, 81% of JASA graduates have not been re-jailed.

• According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Department, it costs less to maintain security for JASA program participants.

• Positive benefits have also been noted for those participants that enter the JASA program but do not complete treatment. They have a lower recidivism rate than inmates that did not participate in the program. This underscores the effectiveness of treatment as a positive force in lowering recidivism rates

• The continued effectiveness of the JASA Program in the men’s jail was positive factor in the Sheriff’s Department’s award of a Federal grant to begin a JASA program in the women’s jail.

• Participants learn new skills while in treatment that improve their lives and the lives of their families; allowing them become contributing members of society and assets to the community..

• An average of 18 participants work towards acquiring a High School Diploma each week they are in treatment.

• An average of 7 participants complete a parenting program each month while in treatment.

• Participants receive anger management classes to help control aggression and improve their ability to appropriately deal with others in the community.
   

Crimes related to the use of substances continue to be a burden on local law enforcement agencies. These crimes increase law enforcement costs that must be shouldered by the citizens of Polk County. Additionally, this results in property loss, higher insurance rates, personal injury and, possibly, death. Research has demonstrated that programs targeting substance abuse offenders lower recidivism rates, thereby lowering the cost of crime to the community.

The JASA program focuses on helping the participant gain an understanding of the disease of addiction; the phases and physiology of addiction; gain increased personal insight and develop an improved self-concept; learn anger management and communication skills; and development of a positive and socially acceptable system of values and beliefs.

In August 2002, the Department of Children and Families and FADAA (Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association) presented JASA with a Best Practices Award. JASA was chosen from “an outstanding field of applicants that represent substance abuse treatment services.” The application process began in February 2002 and culminated when a select panel of reviewers determined the recipients based on specific criteria established in the Awards application. JASA was awarded 2nd Place in Treatment Programs. During a recent review of the Polk County Jail by Florida Correctional Accreditation Commission, JASA was identified as an exemplary program.

The goal of the JASA program was to reduce the recidivism rate as well as the illegal use of substances by program graduates by 25%. Our program was audited at the end of our third year by an independent agency, Bolduc & Associates. The JASA Program has far surpassed this goal.