MOUNT VERNON — When offenders walk through the doors of Alpha & Omega House, it’s not the beginning of the end. Rather, it’s hopefully the end of a not-so-good beginning.
The Alpha & Omega House, 118 E. High St., is aptly named because it represents the beginning of rehabilitation and the ending of addiction. Joshua Gutridge, deputy chief probation officer for the Knox County Common Pleas Court, heads a team of probation officers committed to inspiring and guiding individuals to a healthier and more productive lifestyle.
“Reducing the recidivism rate is one of our biggest goals,” said Gutridge of the programs offered at Alpha & Omega House.
Gutridge said that it costs $60 a day to house an offender in the county jail.
“If I can put eight guys in a program and teach them new skills, I can save grant money, save the county money, and we have a person who has more tools in their pocket,” he said. “I’m scared that if we don’t make the changes now, with the opiate epidemic, the children will have a hard time if we don’t get to the root of the problem.”
Gutridge said evidence shows that education helps reduce recidivism rates. Programs at Alpha & Omega House include GED classes, basic skill classes and cognitive behavior therapy.
The bedrock of the programming is T4C (Thinking for a Change), a 16-week class that teaches individuals how to react to feelings of anger and how to be an active listener. Using the analogy of an iceberg, Gutridge said T4C focuses on underlying issues such as attitudes, beliefs and thought patterns.
“We do role playing using real-life events, and we focus on what were they thinking at the time and what are they having problems with,” he said. “We still have to hold them accountable for what they have done, but there’s a lot more interaction.”
Immediacy is an integral part of the programming, whether it’s positive reinforcement or sanctions.
“We can sanction them if they don’t come in,” said Gutridge. “I’ve already noticed a difference. We have not had nearly the amount of no-shows. We give them [Knox Area Transit] vouchers; they know they have to be here. It’s starting to show that it’s making an impact; agencies are starting to let us know if they don’t show [for appointments].”
Regarding the positive reinforcement, Gutridge said that offenders often come from a negative environment with little or no recognition of accomplishments. Additionally, he said, the community often looks down on felony offenders and they have trouble finding employment.
“We want to build up their self-esteem,” he said.
There are 40 to 45 people enrolled in Alpha & Omega House programs; Gutridge expects that number to grow. Nineteen are in T4C. The average age of enrollees is in the mid-20s.
Gutridge and his team moved into the county-owned Alpha & Omega House about six weeks ago. Before that, the team was based in the county courthouse.
“By us being out of the courthouse, I think it’s helped our program,” said Gutridge. “We have better rapport with the individuals; they’re not stressed about walking through the courthouse and possibly seeing the judge.”
Local community partners supporting the Alpha & Omega House include Behavioral Healthcare Partners, TouchPointe Marriage and Family Services, The Freedom Center, Knox Technical Center, Riverside Recovery Services, Opportunity Links Adult Education, and Opportunity Knox Jobs Program. Representatives of these organizations provide services at Alpha & Omega House. Services range from simply meeting an offender and setting up an appointment at the main office to doing a complete mental health assessment onsite.
Columbus-based Eden Counseling Center recently joined the list. The 54-bed center, which just opened Nov. 27, is a residential housing facility for those working to overcome mental illness and/or drug addiction. Through the common pleas court, Alpha & Omega House has 10 beds reserved at all times for individuals who need inpatient treatment.
“We work with BHP, The Freedom Center and other organizations, and now we have a direct line to inpatient treatment,” said Gutridge, adding that Alpha & Omega House will pick up with after-care when the individual completes Eden’s 103-day program.
Having experienced first-hand how substance abuse affects families, Gutridge is committed to helping adults change their lives and, ultimately, creating a better environment for their children and the community.
“I am pretty passionate about this,” he said. “I’ve been on the other end and see what it can do. But everyone has a family member, a niece, a nephew, someone they would like to get help for.”
Future plans include possibly hiring two additional staff members next year, bringing a barber or beautician on board, getting a clothing room up and running and recruiting mentors for peer support. “We are trying to get more people who have been through the system to come back to us [as coaches],” he added.
“With having this Alpha & Omega House, it’s given us full opportunity to take advantage of [Common Pleas Court] Judge Richard Wetzel’s ideas and what he wants to do for the community.”
