What isSuccess for Life®?

Success for Life is an operational philosophy that incorporates evidenced-based programs, principles and services into an integrated model of service delivery for correctional facilities to prepare offenders for successful transition into the community.  Success for Life encompasses every functional aspect of the facility to provide a cross-discipline service approach to offender rehabilitation.  The Success for Life model provides MTC facilities with a framework to deliver life changing programs and services in a unique way and in a supportive environment that models desired behavior and encourages success.  The goal is to immerse offenders into programming and services that improves the values, habits, and skills of the offenders and return them to society with the abilities needed to lead a productive and satisfying life.

 The Success for Life approach begins the first day an offender enters an MTC correctional facility and encompasses all areas of the facility.  The strategy targets the core areas of the offender’s life, infusing positive values and interactions, enhancing skills, and addressing identified treatment needs in a coordinated manner.  With high expectations and opportunities for personal growth, offenders and staff at all levels become involved in preparing the offender for post-release success.  The use of the Success for Life model enables correctional facilities to unify all organizational units under a mission supporting change and success for the offender. 

Mission and Goals

The mission of Success for is to reduce recidivism and improve public safety by providing a continuum of treatment programs and services appropriate to the needs of individual offenders from the time of commitment to an MTC correctional facility until the time of release from the facility.

The goals are to:

• use focused, research-based treatment programs to reduce recidivism
• deliver high quality programs in the most effective way
• involve all personnel, including security staff, on the correctional facility in the rehabilitation of offenders
• create an environment on the facility that is supportive of and inclusive in the rehabilitation process

The Success for Life Approach

MTC’s innovative Success for Life approach to offender rehabilitation utilizes the entire facility staff, including security staff, to provide a positive, supportive atmosphere and to deliver a program that provides the opportunity for genuine offender change.  All personnel at the institution work as a team to teach, provide guidance, serve as role models and mentors, and encourage and support offender participation in programs and services as outlined in each offender’s Individual Case Plan.  Success for Life is provided through the cooperation of all facility departments.  Personnel on the facility are encouraged to adopt the term BIONIC.  BIONIC is an acronym for Believe It or Not I Care.  The term conveys an important message to offenders and staff that there is concern for the rehabilitation of the individual offender and that the staff is sincerely involved in the process.  Mentors and coaches are important to the Success for Life approach not only as team members but because they are able to provide Success for Life services beyond that provided by staff.  Offender immersion into positive activities would not be possible without these dedicated mentors and coaches.

In addition, the Success for Life approach integrates “best practices” in all areas of operations.  With the goal of delivering high quality programs in the most effective way, the Success for Life model embodies “best practices” in the following ways:

• Adhering to applicable national standards of the American Correctional Association and the Correctional Education Association.
• Complying with national and state industry standards and with recommendations in job training programs in all areas possible.
• Applying program management strategies that positively impact program quality.
• Emphasizing orientation and assessment to focus individual programming on offenders with the greatest needs in criminogenic characteristics.
• Providing quality programming in areas that have proven to reduce recidivism such as skill-based programs and cognitive behavioral treatment.
• Delivering a highly structured program targeting the needs of individuals.
• Implementing offender support services that enhance program success and that are critical to practicing and utilizing acquired skills.

Strategy: Four Basic Stages

The Success for Life model contains four basic stages:

1. Orientation
2. The Program Day
3. Beyond the Program Day
4. Re-entry Support

   Orientation is the first stage for involving offenders and begins the planning for Success for Life participation.  During orientation, offenders learn the institutional goals, expectations of living in a correctional facility and the schedules of the facility. Offenders are also introduced to the various program offerings and opportunities available at the facility, receive a comprehensive assessment to identify needs, set personal goals and work with professional staff to develop an Individualized Case Plan (ICP).  The ICP focuses on the rehabilitation services the offenders will receive during their incarceration.

   The Program Day is the second stage of the Success for Life model.  This stage takes place during what is considered the normal work day for an offender and includes programming and work.  Offenders may participate in a variety of programs that include substance abuse, academic and vocational education, life skills and cognitive skills.  In addition, institutional work assignments with related training activities are considered an important component in the Success for Life model. 

   Beyond the Program Day is the third stage and encompasses opportunities for community service, exercise, positive use of time beyond the work day, and participation in faith-based programs and services.

   Reentry is the fourth stage of the Success for Life model.  During this stage, offenders participate in Pre-Release Training and Planning in final preparation for successful reentry into society.  During this stage, offenders develop a transition plan, gain valuable skills and knowledge, and learn to access community resources that can support their successful transition into the community. Also, each offender develops a portfolio of important documents to serve as a guide for activities after release.  The portfolio contains vital identification records, certificates of program completion in academic and job-related, community contact and job opportunity information, and documents necessary for employment.

   For more information about MTC's Success for Life® program, contact us.