Women’s Issues in Drug Court Susan James-Andrews, MS, CAC LADCP 2002

Treatment “From the bench to the individual session, treatment should be provided in an wholistic manner” (Brisbane, James-Andrews,POC, Hawaii, 1999)

Issues for Women in Treatment  Family  Children  Re-Unification  Relationships  Abuse  Trauma/Grief  Health

Family and Children  Family –Generational substance abuse/addiction –Rejection –Role/place in family –Childhood –Expectations  Children –Custody –Shame –Guilt –Out of home placement –Ages

Re-Unification  SAFE Family Act  Societies expectations  Participants expectation  To parent or not to parent  Fears  Expectations  Failures

Relationships  With other women  With men  Partners/Spouse  Children  Community  Workforce  Involvement with other systems  Drug Court Interaction –Judge –Counselor –Case manager –Probation –Others …..

Abuse  Psychological  Physical  Sexual  Self –Not worthy syndrome –Shame –Guilt

Trauma/Grief  Violence –Experiencing –Witnessing  Death  Poverty  Racism

Health (Mind, Body & Spirit)  Physical  Psychological  Spiritual

System Design Addressing the unique needs of women: Gender/Woman Specific

Gender Specific Services Is Not  A program that only admits women and uses the same approach provided to men

What is Gender Specific Services? Recognizes “real” differences from males & females –Interaction styles –Learning styles –Female socialization –Support Systems (female mentors)  Respects the components of culture relevant to women/girls  Addresses unique aspects of race/ethnicity

Female Specific Services Defined  “ A culturally relevant wholistic approach that focuses on strengths, safety, empowerment, skill building and survival skills. The healing philosophy embraces the concept of women/girls being in control of their own lives and promotes continuous change.” –Susan James-Andrews “ Why Gender Specific Treatment”, 5/2000

Staffing and “Treatment”  Actually visit a treatment site  Determine what type of gender specific services are provided –Tracks –Group –Staff training –Feminist therapy techniques* –Continuum  Ask questions: –Do you enjoy working with women/girls –Do you feel women/girls are more difficult to work with than men/boys –What is your philosophy regarding gender specific services –How is safety defined?

Women In Drug Courts  Judge  Female versus Male counselors –Closer look at phases  Survival or manipulation  Staff splitting  Peer interaction  Appearance/Body Image  Sanctions and Incentives

SAFETY  Safe from the system  Safe from peers  Safe from aggression  Safe from family

Assess System  Growth rate of women/girls in the justice system  Screening for eligibility /gender sensitive  Treatment assessment relevant to unique needs of women/girls  Community support system specific to women  Availability of female mentors  Feminist Therapy techniques in service delivery

Staffing Considerations  Culturally Competent  Reflection of the population  Mentors  Strength Based approach  Adolescent Development (girls)  Materials specific to women/girls  Comfortable with issues of sexuality? –Coercion –Abuse –Violence –Commercial Sex Workers –lesbians

TRUST  Why  Who  When  How