COOK COUNTY, IL TASC

Please see below for general and procedural information on the Adult Criminal Justice Program of TASC, Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities.

Why Am I at TASC?

You are at TASC because you have a felony charge and you may have an alcohol or drug problem.

What's Next?

TASC must have your permission to ask questions and share your answers with others. We must explain why we need to do this. This informed consent is important protection for you. Please ask questions if you have any.

During the assessment we ask questions and use this information to help you make a plan for dealing with your problems. Note: Being honest with us helps us know how you feel and what you want in your life. We do not use your information to harm or embarrass you.

We report the results of the assessment to the court (the judge and/or your probation officer).

You must remain in contact with us and keep appointments as agreed until we tell you that you are finished with TASC.

Who Are the People in This Process?

The judge decides whether you will receive probation and if you will stay in TASC.

Your probation officer makes sure that you follow the rules of probation and any special orders from the judge.

Treatment providers help you learn how to live without alcohol or drugs. Treatment may be residential or outpatient. For many people, treatment is the beginning of recovery.

Your support system is made up of the people and things that help you: friends, family, a job, hobbies, religious groups, and more. Finding support, and also knowing what is not good support, is key to recovery.

Support groups - like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), and many others- have helped people all over the world stay clean.

TASC helps you plan how to solve your problems. TASC and your probation officer will work together closely to support you as long as you show interest and make an effort.

TASC Case Management Services

Our first and most important service to you is to help you define your goals and set priorities.

While you are in treatment we get reports about how you are doing. We discuss your case with your counselor whenever needed and we help resolve problems.

If you get residential treatment we may meet with you at least once to plan your return home. When you leave residential treatment or a halfway house, you must contact TASC.

During outpatient treatment, and after treatment is complete, you will also attend regular
appointments with us. This helps us see how you are doing and continue planning with you.

You will continue to meet with TASC after treatment is finished. Through service planning we can help you build recovery in many areas:

-Employment
-Housing
-Transportation
-Mental health or trauma counseling
-Medical care
-Family
-Recreation

One very important rule: If you agree to a service plan activity, we will hold you to that agreement.

TASC may collect drug tests from you. These tests are a way for you to show that you have stopped using. Cheating on drug tests will always catch up with you.

When there are problems, we might hold a special session, depending on how serious the issue is:

A motivation session is held to resolve small problems in the recovery process.

An intervention session is held for more serious problems that, if not corrected, will force you out of the program.

A warning session happens when you are about to fail the TASC program. This is a last chance.

How Do I Complete TASC?

How to succeed:

-Complete all required treatment.
-Do not use drugs or alcohol.
-Follow your service plan.

We do everything we can to help you avoid an unsuccessful discharge from TASC. There must be limits to what we can allow, though, and some behavior cannot be tolerated at any time. These behaviors include:

-Repeated failure to cooperate or show any interest in change
-Repeated failure to keep appointments
-Committing any violent acts
-Committing new felonies
-Having alcohol, drugs, or weapons in your possession

Helpful Hints for Court

Prepare for court ahead of time:

-Know why you will be in court.
-Know your judge's name.
-Bring proof of attending school or a job, treatment, or group therapy and housing. Your TASC case manager can help you collect these things.

Dress your best. For example:

-Avoid excessive jewelry, including face piercing.
-Do not wear clothing or hats that have drug or alcohol images on them.
-Be on time! Even if the judge or the lawyers are delayed, you being on time shows your respect for the court.
-Speak clearly and loudly.
-Look at the judge when you are speaking.
-Always ask for a copy of the court's order. It tells you what you must do.

What is Recovery?

Recovery is the Iife you lead after you decide to stop using drugs and alcohol. This is the part of llfe where you repair damage done and grow as a whole person.

Treatment

There are different klnds of treatment. Any kind of treatment can last from a few weeks to several months, depending on what you need.

Detoxification (Detox) is the period of time when your body adjusts to not having drugs in it. This may be completed prior to enrollment in residential or outpatient, depending on your needs.

In residential treatment you live at a facility where you attend counseling in groups and individual sessions. You are not locked in, but you are not allowed to leave the building without special permission.

A recovery home or a halfway house is for individuals who have begun recovery but who need the structure of residential. You will usually be able to get a job or go to school, and you will also go out to support groups.

Outpatient treatment allows you to continue living and working normally while you attend regular appointments.

With intensive outpatient you will attend group sessions three to five times per week. This form of outpatient is for people who have additional needs, but who also have good support and are able to avoid using alcohol or drugs when not at treatment.

Basic outpatient involves groups no more than once or twice a week. This works best if you have already made progress toward your recovery.

TASC does not charge for this program. TASC receives money for its Adult Criminal Justice Program from the State of Illinois.

Treatment will almost always cost you some money. All of the treatment agencies TASC uses receive government money. However, there is a requirement that the agency must collect from you whatever you can afford to pay. Paying what you can for treatment is one step toward being a responsible citizen, and it can provide you with a sense of accomplishment.

© TASC, Inc. December 2003