432-bed In-Prison Treatment Program Commences Operations for the Florida DOC

West Caldwell, NJ March 6 -

Community Education Centers, Inc. has extensive experience providing in-prison treatment services for the Florida Department of Corrections (FL DOC). The company operates nine behind-the-walls treatment programs for the Department and recently began the ramp up of its newest program, a 432-bed therapeutic community (TC) at the Everglades Re-Entry Center in Miami, Florida.

“CEC was very excited expand our treatment services for the Florida Department of Corrections. The company’s exceptional experience providing in-prison treatment services to DOC offenders makes us a great fit to provide a therapeutic community at the Everglades Re-Entry Center,” said Steve Tomlin, Senior Vice President for Reentry Operations. “As the program ramp up is currently underway, I look forward to it becoming fully operational.”

Inside the Everglades Re-Entry Center, CEC provides the therapeutic community program staff and correctional officers from the Florida Department of Corrections provide security. Vocational and educational services are provided in a partnership with Miami Dade College. The facility also includes a faith and character dormitory.

CEC's TC program provides treatment services that motivate and assist offenders to achieve meaningful goals. This includes helping them develop basic values, behaviors and work skills that are consistent with the behavior of responsible members of society. Staff members function as role-models by demonstrating appropriate attitudes, behavior, and the shared values of the TC community.

The TC programs use a hierarchical model with treatment stages that reflect increased levels of individual and social responsibility. Peer influence is an important component of TC programs. Offenders learn and assimilate social norms and develop more effective social skills through daily community meetings, work assignments and the peer group process. Daily interactions are used to cultivate a sense of community mission and mutual self-help. Under the mutual self-help concept, individuals assume responsibility for the recovery, personal growth and right living of their peers in order to maintain their own recovery.

Community Education Centers, Inc. (CEC) is the leading provider of offender reentry and in-prison treatment services in America, operating in 17 states and the Commonwealth of Bermuda. CEC provides a full range of therapeutic residential and non-residential reentry services with a documented record of reducing recidivism.