Services provided by social works

   The issues with substance abuse are complex and multifaceted; personal background, living environment, the circle of friends may well be one of the reasons why a substance user resorts to relapse. With professional social work practice models, our social workers can gain insights into inmates’ backgrounds, families and living conditions, and devise assistance against personal circumstances. Current services provided by social workers:

1.  Initial evaluations:

Inmates will be interviewed when they first arrive at the Center. Information on inmates’ personal backgrounds, family relationships, histories of addiction, social relationships, and skills will be gathered.

2.  Individual interviews:

Through one on one interviews, social workers discuss with inmates how they get entangled with illicit drugs, they review and consolidate where their lives have led them to. It is hoped that inmates will find self-affirmation, positive cognition, motivations, and strengths to reset and restart.

3.  Group counseling:

A leader will lead a group of inmates, and everyone has opportunities to talk about personal opinions on a specific topic, they can exchange life experiences. Under the understanding atmosphere, inmates are given another chance to recognize, interpret and rebuild relationships between their inner selves and other people.

4.  Information on Social resources:

There will always be hiccups in life; however, assistance is available, and social resources are great options when anyone feels helpless and lost. Currently, our social workers offer information on the following social resources: resources on social administration(for example, social welfare measures to assist middle or low-income families and provide emergency aid etc.); resources on addiction rehabilitation(for instance, nationwide drug prevention and control centers, hospitals, clinics and private addiction rehabilitation institutes); resources on employment and vocational training and resources on protections available to discharged prisoners.

5.  Magic family day:

Social workers periodically invite inmates’ family members to join the Magic Family Day. It is hoped that personal and emotional communications between inmates and their family members will be improved; and the Center endeavors to provide necessary assistance and care for their families at the same time.

6.  Health forums for family members:

To further promote rehabilitation info and improve better understanding on illicit drugs and abusers, on certain public holidays and Magic Family Days, social workers will hold health forums for inmates’ families, to achieve greater communications between the Center and the family members.

7.  Transfers to halfway houses or private rehabilitation institutions:

Should inmates have concerns on relapse after being discharged from the Center, and are willing to be transferred to private institutions for continued rehabilitation; or if inmates express needs and desires to be accommodated to halfway houses, due to homeless concerns after being discharged, social workers will provide transfer assistance to suitable facilities after evaluations.  

8.  Transfer to Taiwan After-Care Association:

Taiwan After-Care Association provides services on employment assistance, vocational skill training, travel subsidies and loans for start-up businesses. If assistance from Taiwan After-Care Association is deemed necessary after being reviewed by social workers, an inmate will be transferred to the Association for further assessment and support.

9.  Follow-up communications after being discharged:

After rehabilitated inmates are discharged from the Center, social workers will conduct follow-up communications with phone calls to about inmates’ wellbeing, rehabilitation and employment status; they will also provide social welfare information or transfer services if deemed necessary. Discharged inmates are welcome to contact social workers, should they encounter any issues.