Men’s Application Information
Referral and Acceptance Process
Bridges of Iowa is a long-term faith-based treatment program for substance abusing individuals involved with the criminal justice system. Bridges of Iowa provides an intensive faith-based community environment designed to support individuals as they transition from prison or jail confinement. Using a modified therapeutic community and cognitive learning approach, Bridges of Iowa challenges individuals to replace their criminal thinking and drug using behavior with Christian centered ways. Bridges of Iowa clients actively work with local churches and 12-step support groups through mentoring and sponsorship programs. This mentoring begins while in our residential program, but continues as client transitions into the community of work, family, and friends. Our hope and our commitment is that every Bridges of Iowa client will be given the support and direction needed to begin their own “Spiritual Journey” and change their lives for the better.
We rely on information from them regarding your commitment to change and your appropriateness for our program. A substance abuse assessment may be substituted for the application. It’s important for you to know we put great emphasis on your letter “Why I Want to Enroll in the Bridges of Iowa Treatment Program.”
Once the application process is complete and you have been accepted, your name will be placed on a waiting list, and Bridges of Iowa staff will inform your referral source of approximate available placement dates. If the court should order placement at Bridges prior to completion of the application and acceptance process, and if we find that you do not meet the qualifications for our program, we will be unable to accommodate the referral. Your referral source will then need to notify the court or the Administrative Hearing/Law Judge, for amendment of the court order. If your hearing regarding placement at Bridges is postponed we ask you or your referral source to notify Bridges of the new hearing date. Also, if your hearing regarding placement is denied we ask you or your referral source to notify Bridges in order to cancel the referral. In the event you are court-ordered and have been accepted we ask the referral source to provide Bridges with a copy of the court order. Your referral source is responsible for notifying the local jail of the date you’ll be received in our program and to arrange your transportation to Bridges of Iowa.
Please make certain you have included all requested information in the application packet, including the criminal history. Incomplete applications will delay and may prevent your acceptance into the Bridges of Iowa treatment program.
General Program Information
Bridges of Iowa three program phases are designed to last approximately one year. The resident’s commitment, compliance, and motivation may affect this time frame.
All program participants will complete an orientation period of 1-2 weeks. This consists of learning the rules, daily program structure & time frames, testing, and writing your life story. After presenting your life story to the community you will be given the opportunity to enter Phase I.
Phase 1 will typically last 60-90 days and consists of a variety of treatment modalities including, but not limited to Bible studies, chemical dependency education groups, criminal thinking groups, Church, therapy groups, community meetings, Alcoholics Anonymous & Narcotics Anonymous meetings’, job seeking classes, and financial planning/budgeting classes. There are no treatment fees/rent for residents during Phase 1. The resident’s time away from the facility is considerably limited during Phase I.
Phase 2 typically lasts 60-90 days and is the point in the program where residents obtain employment, begins working during the day, and paying treatment fees/rent of $150 per week. After work residents participate in therapy group, chemical dependency groups, AA/NA meetings, spend time with their church mentors and/or sponsors, and attend church services. Phase II residents may access community furloughs beginning at 12-hours and work their way up to 48-hour furloughs away from the facility.
Phase 3 typically last six (6) months. This is the point in the program where the client gains much more freedom on the residential treatment unit and within 60-days moves out of the facility and obtains housing in the community. Client must submit a phase 3 transition planning for suitable, safe housing. He must have a zero balance on his Bridges rent/loan fund and have enough money in savings (typically $1,000-$1,500) to justify moving out. Phase 3 clients are required to return to the residential unit two evenings per week for continuing-care group counseling sessions and Spiritual programming.