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LOS LUNAS — Inmates at the Valencia County Detention Center are able to access several programs to help them reenter the community successfully.
At a recent Valencia County Commission meeting, VCDC Warden Randy Gutierrez gave commissioners a briefing on the various programs offered for inmates at the jail, including the MAT, SUCCEED and RISE programs — Medicated Assisted Treatment for substance misuse, Substance Use Disorder Education and Reach Intervene Support Engage — as well as recent community engagement projects.
Calling the MAT “one of the biggest accomplishments here in the county,” the warden said the U.S. Department of Justice grant-funded program had 190 clients last year, with 100 making it to their first appointments outside the jail and only 10 returning to the facility.
“That tells you medicated assisted treatment is working,” Gutierrez said. “Right now, the Valencia County MAT program is one of the premier programs in the state.”
Also funded by a DOJ grant, the SUCCEED program has graduated five individuals and the warden said he looks forward to the program continuing to blossom.
In September, the detention center hosted a community barbecue that fed 220 community members and provided 47 to-go trays to unhoused people. The barbecue focused on substance misuse recovery resources and organizations.
For Thanksgiving, the staff served 280 meals to those in need in the community and for Christmas, held a toy distribution for children of incarcerated parents.
In a separate interview, Sarah Flores, the MAT re-entry specialist for VCDC, said there’s a move statewide to have MAT programs in jails.
“By law, we have to give everybody their medication. A lot (of inmates) come in and they’re on (something like) Suboxone, so we just continue their treatment,” Flores said.
“While they’re on the medication, they get individual counseling and peer-support sessions.”
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The MAT program also offers what’s called “moral recognition training” to the inmates, which is geared toward changing cognitive behavior.
“We’re trying to help them change the way they think. In their addiction, they play the victim a lot. ‘It’s everyone else’s fault I use because of this and that.’ Moral recognition therapy helps them come to terms with their addiction. They start to own their behaviors,” she said.
Inmates also do goal-oriented planning for themselves, Flores said, setting short- and long-term goals.
The RISE program has grown, Flores said, giving inmates the chance to focus on mental health.
“With MAP you have your addiction and long-term substance use disorders,” she said. “RISE is your mental health clients.”
The RISE program was launched in 2019 in New Mexico to address the scarcity of behavioral health services in county jails and detention centers across the state.
Flores said inmates can have a dual diagnosis, struggling with alcohol and substance abuse as well as their mental health.
“They’re still getting individual counseling as well (in RISE) and we have peer support groups,” she said.
Mia Vann, the RISE program manager, has started a “backpack on release” program for RISE clients, as well as a “dress for success” program for inmates, Flores said.
When they are released from the jail, a lot of clients don’t have basic necessities, so Vann makes sure they leave with a backpack containing a change of clothes, socks, underwear and basic hygiene products.
“It’s just a few basic needs they get when they go out the door upon release,” she said.
Flores said she and Vann noticed as inmates were released and beginning their job search, they often didn’t have appropriate clothes.
“They can come in and get clothes and shoes so they’re able to go out and have that proper interview,” Flores said.
A new program — SUCCEED — focuses on substance use disorder education. Since not all inmates in the jail meet the criteria for the MAP or RISE programs, SUCCEED is offered to the entire population.
“Anyone with a substance use disorder is allowed to take the class. We’re teaching them how to stay sober. Educating them on stress management, things that are tied to their triggers,” she said. “Skills they need for their toolbox.”
Flores and Vann also offer inmates basic life skills classes like resume building, budgeting, shopping on a budget and more, as well as partnering with the Ideas for Cooking and Nutrition — ICAN — program offered by the Valencia County Extension Service, which focuses on helping lower-income families and individuals eat healthy on a budget.
Flores said they teach clients to measure success not necessarily by how many days sober they have, but rather respond, not react.
“A lot of times in addiction, that’s all we’re doing — we’re reacting. Someone’s rude to them, so they’re rude back. They feel overwhelmed, they’re being triggered, so they react and go get their substance and use it.
“How are you going to respond to the feelings you’re having? For some, success is getting an apartment. Getting their kids to school. Going to work. Through these programs, you get to see the person get past the trauma and addiction. You get to see the person they wanted to be.”
