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Program Policies Manual

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• INTRODUCTION TO PROGRAM POLICY MANUAL
• INTERVENTION PHILOSOPHY
• INTERVENTION MISSION
• INTERVENTION ACCOUNTABILITY COMMITMENT

1. SERVICE PARTICIPANTS RIGHTS
2. CONFIDENTIALITY
3. INFORMATION RELEASE AUTHORIZATIONS
4. PROGRAM RESEARCh
1. Research which uses non-identifying information
2. Research which uses identifying information


5. "AIDA's" (Pronounced: Ay-Da)
1. Extra Group Session Attendance Pink Slips


6. TUITION
1. Assessment
1. Group Sliding Tuition Scale
2. Individual Assessment Sliding Tuition Scale
2. Requests for Tuition Reduction
3. Conditions of Payment
4. ADA Accounting Memo
5. Balance
6. Accountability
7. Income Documentation Form
8. Deposit


7. ATTENDANCE
1. Individual Assessment Appointment Attendance
2. Group Session Attendance
1. Alternate Group
2. Mentoring Group
3. Sign In Sheet


8. GROUP CANCELLATIONS
9. SCHEDULING
10. ASSIGNMENTS
11. FOLDERS
12. CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR
13. ACCOUNTABILITY
14. ADA PROGRAM STATUS
1. Compliant Status
2. Frozen Status
3. Non-Compliant Status
4. Discharge Status


15. GROUP PARTICIPATION
1. Requesting Agenda Time
2. Group Leader
3. Group Starting Time
4. Opening & Closing Observance
5. Use of names
6. Respectful Discussion
7. Monitors


16. SERVICE AVAILABILITY STANDARDS REGARDING LITIGATION
17. REQUESTS FOR CORRESPONDENCE
18. ALCOHOL/DRUG USE
19. URINALYSIS and/or Breathalyzer
20. FOOD
21. CLOTHING
22. CSS FACILITY
1. Access to Group Room
2. Smoking
3. Parking


23. TELECOMMUNICATION DEVICES
24. WEAPONS
25. CHILDREN
26. OBSERVERS
27. AFTER YOU HAVE MET THE PROGRAM COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS
28. REVISIONS TO THE PROGRAM POLICIES MANUAL
29. CONSENT TO SERVICE

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INTRODUCTION TO PROGRAM POLICY MANUAL

When the Alternatives to Domestic Aggression (ADA) Program began in 1986 we did not have a Policy Manual. However, our experience over these many years has taught us which policies offer the best environment for those persons who choose to undergo the challenging process of personal change. Our policies are based on our philosophy and mission and serve an important function in delivering services to you.

It is important that you pay careful attention in the Orientation to the discussion of ADA's policies. These policies will affect you immediately upon signing the Consent to Service form, and this manual will govern your ongoing participation. The ADA Program reserves the right to refuse service to any individual who does not comply with ADA Policies.

INTERVENTION PHILOSOPHY

The Intervention Philosophy of ADA is that domestic violence, a crime overwhelmingly committed by men, is purposeful, instrumental, and strategic behavior conducted for the purpose of control and domination for personal benefit. Therefore, we intervene with men so they will be purposeful, instrumental and strategic in providing accountability, safety and respect to everyone.

INTERVENTION MISSION

The Intervention Mission of ADA is to hold those who perpetrate domestic abuse and/or violence accountable for their actions. We do this by providing an educational arena where men are helped to acknowledge their behavior, identify their use of violence and coercive control, and are offered opportunities to learn about personal accountability.

INTERVENTION ACCOUNTABILITY COMMITMENT

We are committed to utilizing interventions, which have the purpose of teaching accountability. We believe it is essential to hold you accountable for your actions and beliefs. Although our interventions may be distressing to you at times, they will serve to meet the goals of safety and accountability.

1. SERVICE PARTICIPANTS RIGHTS

You can not be discriminated against because of your race, color, gender, age, religion, national origin, or sexual orientation. As a service participant of ADA you have a right to know and participate in your intervention plan and to be kept informed of any changes in the plan. You have the right to expect that the plan will address issues that brought you to seek assistance from us. You also have the right to refuse any service or intervention. You have the right to see and contest the information about you in your case record. To see your case record an appointment* must be made with the ADA Program Director. This record contains all of the written information that this agency has about you, along with your written comments and your written statements contesting case information.

(*You may be charged for this appointment)

You have the right to provide us with feedback about your experience with Catholic Social Services (CSS) ADA. You may express suggestions for change or improvement of service, complaints or grievances first to the staff person with whom you have contact, then, if necessary, to the Program Director of ADA who can explain the agency's grievance procedures. It is necessary that you follow procedure when pursuing a suggestion, complaint or grievance.

2. CONFIDENTIALITY

CSS/ADA maintains standards of confidentiality that abide with federal law and regulations regarding service participant records.

Your identity, and all statements you make, both written and oral, while in the ADA Program are confidential. No information will be released to anyone without your consent. Further, you are expected to keep your fellow program members identities and statements confidential.

Information that you, or others, relate to us in individual or group sessions, in phone calls, messages, in writing, or otherwise, may, at your facilitator's discretion, be brought up in ADA group sessions.

Do not bring any sort of electronic audio recording device onto our premises at any time. Bringing such a device onto our premises will result in permanent discharge from programming.

here are circumstances in which the law and/or ethical practice dictate that we may release information without your permission, and they include:

1. If it is assessed during your participation in this program that abuse or neglect of children is occurring we will make a report to the Children's Protective Services Department of the Family Independence Agency.
2. If you commit a criminal offense while you are in this program, we may report such information to the police and/or probation.
3. If, at any time during your involvement in the ADA Program we determine you are a danger to yourself or another person, we may inform you of that opinion and in the case of the latter we may also inform that other person. This may also include notifying the police.
4. If the disclosure is required by a court order.
5. If information is needed in a medical emergency.
6. In audits of the agency required for licensure, certification or accreditation.

3. INFORMATION RELEASE AUTHORIZATIONS

Your participation in the ADA Program is conditioned on your maintaining Information Release Authorizations to people, agencies or organizations the ADA Program determines is necessary to be able to contact. By signing an Information Release Authorization you give permission for us to have contact with the parties specified on the Authorization. For example, this may include (ex) partner(s), and/or the person(s) you have been violent or abusive to, court(s) you are involved with, counselors, Friend of the Court, therapists or treatment programs, drug or alcohol treatment programs, Children's Protective Services, etc. If you get involved in a new relationship(s), we will want to have the potential  to have contact with that person(s). We will expect you to notify us if you get involved in a new relationship(s).

Therefore, if you want to be a part of this program, you must keep a current Information Release Authorization on file giving ADA, its facilitators, administrators, officers and assigns, the right to contact and share information with certain people or organizations. If you cancel any Information Release Authorization the ADA Program may terminate services to you. We would then notify whomever you previously authorized information to be released to that you have left the ADA Program because of a refusal to permit communication to continue.

4. PROGRAM RESEARCH

A. Research which uses non-identifying information:

Service participants who voluntarily consent to participate in research projects are asked to confirm both their willingness to participate and their understanding of the project(s) by signing the Research Participant Consent form. The nature of the project, its goal and objective, must be explained so that researchers and subjects clearly understand its scope. Participation in research will not be used as a factor in assessing a service participant's status in the ADA Program.

Upon approval of the President and Board Program Committee of CSS, non-identifying information may be released to qualified personnel for the purpose of conducting scientific research. Service participant identities may not be disclosed, either directly or indirectly. The President of CSS must first approve all research projects.

B. Research which uses identifying information:

In this type of research, information would be obtained in a way that identified a Service Participant, either directly or indirectly. The ADA Program has never been involved in this type of research.

5. "AIDA's" (Pronounced: Ay-Da)

We believe that people who have used abusive behaviors in relationships will stop that behavior when they apply appropriate consequences to themselves. One such consequence is an "Aida" (this is a word that ADA made up). You may receive one or more Aida's for any infraction(s) of ADA policy, or for other reasons. Please note that Aida's are not utilized in the Options group of the ADA Program.

You may receive an Aida for any of the following:

1. Being tardy to group sessions
2. Not paying your agreed upon tuition
3. Not bringing your ADA folder, pen, and material to group
4. Not having an assignment completed (one Aida per assignment)
5. If you are required to have a deposit on account and do not
6. The group does not start on time
7. You bring food, drink, candy, gum, etc. into group
8. Your apparel is in violation of the ADA Clothing policy
9. You are in violation of the CSS Facility policy
10. Your Cell phone or pager rings outloud, anything other than silent mode
11. Not signing in when in group or indicating what type of group you are attending

To assist you in quickly understanding some of the sections, which are covered in this manual under the Aida's section, please note the sections that include:

For each three (3) "Aida's" you receive you will automatically be required to attend one extra group session (3 Aida's =1 extra group session). You will be expected to begin attending extra group sessions immediately. Immediately means this week or next week. You will not be charged for the extra group session(s).

A. Extra Group Session Attendance Pink Slips

When you attend an extra group session you must turn in a "Pink Slip" to verify your attendance. The "Pink Slip" is one way we verify the purpose of your attendance. You are required to attend an Extra Group Session(s) when you have three or more Aida's. Please note: it is possible to receive Aida's in an Extra Group Sessions.

Extra Group Session Attendance Pink Slip

My full name: Johnny Desoto  My Regular Home group is:  Discovery    Foundations    Tactics    Options   Day:     Monday     Tuesday     Wednesday     Thursday Time:     9:00 am     11:15 am     5:30 pm     8:00 pm

Extra Group Session

I am attending     an Extra Group     Mentoring Group On Meeting Today's Date: 3-26-2001 In Group:    Discovery   Foundations   Tactics   Options Day:    Monday   Tuesday   Wednesday   Thursday Time:    9:30 am   11:15 am   5:30 pm   8:00 pm

6. TUITION

A. Assessment

CSS is a United Way funded agency and all of its programs, including ADA, offers service regardless of your ability to pay. Tuition is assessed on a sliding scale based on your income. You are responsible for reporting any changes in your income, such as a salary change or a new job, to your Group Facilitator. If your ability to pay changes, a tuition adjustment may be necessary.

You are required to purchase the "ADA Accountability Workbook". The cost of this workbook is $20.00. If you purchase the workbook within 7 days of your Orientation you can benefit from the reduced cost of $15.00.

i. Group Sliding Tuition Scale

ii. Individual Assessment Sliding Tuition Scale

B. Requests for Tuition Reduction

We are always willing to negotiate reasonable requests for tuition reductions.

• Your request for a tuition reduction will be evaluated when the "Request for Tuition Reduction" form is filled out completely and honestly, and returned to ADA staff with the required documentation.
• While you are in the process of negotiating a new tuition, you are responsible for paying at least what you proposed on your "Request for Tuition Reduction" form. If your proposal is not accepted you are responsible for any balance that may have accrued.
• Approved tuition reduction changes are retroactive to the date when the completed paperwork was submitted.

C. Conditions of Payment

• You are required to make a tuition payment for each session you attend. Payment is expected at the time of service, before the session begins. Specifically, when you come to group place your payment, or an ADA Accounting Memo, face down on the table (see Section 5D for an explanation of the ADA Accounting Memo). Potential Aida
• We do not accept cash. We do not provide receipts for payment. You may pay by check, money order, or certified check. Make sure your name is printed somewhere on that payment or you may not receive credit. Checks, money orders, or certified checks must be made payable to CSS.
• If for any reason a check you write to us is returned "Not Sufficient Funds" (or for any other reason), we will charge you a service charge of $10.00 per check. Further, from that point on we will only accept money orders or certified checks as a form of payment for your tuition.
• We reserve the right to forward any unpaid balance to a collection agency. If you are involved with the criminal justice system we may inform that system of your balance at any time.
• CSS reserves the right to amend its tuition policies and tuition scales in accordance with economic and social fluctuations and the need to maintain accountable standards of service programming.
• Thirty (30) days after you leave the program any funds in your account will be forfeited unless you inform us otherwise.
• All ADA payments are non-refundable.

D. ADA Accounting Memo

You are required to make a tuition payment for each session you attend. If, for any reason, you pay an amount other than your agreed upon tuition, you are required to completely fill out and turn an ADA Accounting Memo. This is a green slip of paper, which states what your tuition is and your plan regarding your account. You will receive an Aida for not making an agreed upon tuition payment unless you have a fully filled out Tuition Balance Payment Agreement form and an ADA Accounting Memo.

E. Balance

Unless you have a previously arranged agreement using a Tuition Balance Payment Agreement form, with the ADA Program regarding carrying a tuition balance, you will be placed on Frozen Status with the ADA Program if your balance exceeds five payments (see section #14 for an explanation of Frozen Status). For example, if your agreed upon tuition is $25.00 per session you will be placed on Frozen Status with the ADA Program if your balance exceeds $125.00 (5 x 25 =$125.00) unless you have a previously arranged written agreement with the ADA Program. *You can avoid being placed on Frozen Status by properly utilizing the Tuition Balance Payment Agreement form.

F. Accountability

You are responsible for payment of tuition for sessions you are scheduled to attend. It is your responsibility to maintain your ADA tuition account in an accountable manner. Unless previously arranged your tuition must be paid weekly. In order to avoid receiving an Aida for not making an agreed upon tuition payment, you must make a payment arrangement with ADA Staff prior to the beginning of your group. This can be done via the phone, in-person, or otherwise in written format. If you carry a tuition balance it is your responsibility to adhere to any agreed upon Balance Payment Plan, and to be familiar with that Plan and your balance at all times.

G. Income Documentation Form

You are required to document your income to ADA at your first group session so that we can confirm your tuition assessment. This can be achieved by providing us with a copy of your W-2, or W-4, or pay stubs, which we will keep permanently in your case record. You may be required to update/document your income information at a later date(s), as requested by ADA.

H. Deposit

A deposit is generally required of ADA Service Participants who have demonstrated a history of irresponsibility regarding making payments.

7. ATTENDANCE

A. Individual Assessment Appointment Attendance

We will schedule this appointment with you at the Orientation or after you attend your initial Group meeting, at a time that best fits your schedule. The assessment appointment does not count towards the 52 sessions required to complete the ADA Program. The minimum cost for an ADA Assessment is $25.00. If your group tuition amount is less than $25.00 your assessment cost will still be $25.00, if your group tuition amount is greater than $25.00, your assessment cost will be equal to your assessed group tuition.

You are required to give at least 24-hour notice if you are going to not attend an assessment appointment, if you do not give a 24 hour notice, you will be charged your assessment tuition amount. If you attend your individual assessment appointment without your paperwork completed or arrive late we may choose to not meet with you, and this will be a considered late-cancel. You will then be required to Pre-pay for another assessment. If you do not attend a second assessment appointment, FOR ANY REASON, you will be discharged from the ADA Program. Remember no-shows and Late-cancels do count as viable absences in your attendance.

B. Group Session Attendance

The ADA Program is 52 group sessions long, minimum. Group sessions meet weekly. Within the 52-session period it is not required that you attend all of the different groups offered by ADA. You may move from one group to another when you, your group, and your facilitator(s) decide that you have gained what you need from your current group and are ready to benefit from another. You are given specific information about the exit criteria for each ADA group in the ADA Accountability Workbook (please refer to the ADA Program completion requirements in this workbook). Once you schedule yourself for a group you are expected to attend that group until your ADA status changes. If you attend Shedding Some Light you will receive 7 sessions credit towards the 52 ADA group sessions.

To avoid a late cancel charge you must call to cancel your attendance by the time the group begins, if you do not call to cancel, you will be charged for that session. For example, if your group starts at 5:30 pm, you must call by 5:30 pm to avoid being charged as a late cancellation. Individual sessions are 50-90+ minutes long, group sessions are at least two hours long. All sessions, both individual and group sessions will begin on time. You are expected to remain in individual and group sessions for the entire time they meet. Specifically, until the closing format has concluded.

You are required to give two weeks notice in group if you are going to leave the ADA Program. You will be charged your assessed tuition if you do not notify us accordingly.

It is your responsibility to monitor your attendance status, and discuss problems with your status, in group, when necessary. Remember ~ we verify your attendance by your tuition payment, by a fully filled-out ADA Program Accounting Memo, and by the sign in sheet.

Non-attendance of any scheduled group session results in an absence. An absence is an absence we make no distinction between "excused" or "unexcused" absences.

You are allowed to have up to nine (9) absences during the time that you are here to complete the 52 sessions of the ADA Program. You are not allowed to use absences until you have attended your 4th ADA group session. If you use an absence before your 4th group meeting, you will be placed on non-compliant status. In order to have the non-compliant status removed, you will need to attend extra group sessions to bring your absence count down to the allowable level of zero (prior to attending your 4th ADA group session).

You may only use up to 5 absences during your first 26 sessions in the ADA Program. If you use more than 5 absences before your 26th session you will placed on non-compliant status. In order to have the non-compliant status removed, you will need to attend extra group sessions to bring your absence count down to the allowable level of 5 during the first 26 sessions in the ADA Program.

If at any time you exceed 9 absences, you will be placed on non-compliance status. In order to have the non-compliant status removed, you will need to attend extra group sessions to bring your absence count down to the allowable level of nine. Any absence, which exceeds the allowable amount, will require an equal amount of extra group sessions. You will not be charged for the extra group session(s).

Remember, Extra Group Sessions do not count towards the 52 sessions required to complete the ADA Program. Extra Group Sessions either serve to remove (exceeded) absences or reduce Aida's.

i. Alternate Group

If for some reason, within one week that your Home Groups meets, you are unable to attend your home group meeting, you may attend an Alternate Group that same week. If you call and late cancel for this meeting you will still be charged, as a late cancel. If you attend an alternate group, within one week of your Home Group meeting, you will not receive an absence. When you attend an Alternate Group you are required to make your customary tuition payment. In addition to this, in order to receive proper credit, you must fill out an ADA Program Accounting Memo (the small green sheet), indicating that you are attending the group as an alternate. For those who appear to be misusing this policy, ADA retains the right to determine not to give you credit for attendance.

Example of an ADA Program Accounting Memo for an Alternate Group:

Please note: you will need to check the appropriate box (Alternate Group) on the sign in sheet when you are in the Alternate Group. Also, you receive credit towards the 52 group sessions at the rate of one group per week, the only exception to this is if you exit from one level of the program, to the next, and begin in the next group the same week in which you exited from the other level.

ii. Mentoring Group

You will see in the exit criteria for some of the ADA groups and in the program completion criteria, requirements of attending the Discovery Group as a Mentor. When you attend the Discovery Group as a Mentor you will need to fill out an Extra Group Session Pink Slip and indicate that you are attending that group as a Mentor.

Example of a fully filled out Extra Group Session Attendance Pink Slip for a Mentoring Group:

Extra Group Session Attendance Pink Slip

My full name: Johnny Desoto  My Regular Home group is:  Discovery    Foundations    Tactics    Options   Day:     Monday     Tuesday     Wednesday     Thursday Time:     9:00 am     11:15 am     5:30 pm     8:00 pm

Extra Group Session

I am attending     an Extra Group     Mentoring Group On Meeting Today's Date: 2-12-2002 In Group:    Discovery   Foundations   Tactics   Options Day:    Monday   Tuesday   Wednesday   Thursday Time:    9:30 am   11:15 am   5:30 pm   8:00 pm

Although it does not happen often, an ADA facilitator may ask a Service Participant to leave group. The most common reasons this happens include Service Participants being disruptive in the group, or refusing to participate in the group. If you are asked to leave, you will be expected to comply without further discussion of any kind. Unless you are told otherwise, you will be expected to return to group the next week and discuss your behavior.

iii. Sign In Sheet

To ensure you receive proper credit you are required to sign in when in group and indicate what type of group you are attending

8. GROUP CANCELLATIONS

The agency is closed on the following days: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, the day after Thanksgiving and the week between December 24th and New Years Day. Also, we cancel groups on the Second Tuesday morning of March, June, September and December.

If you choose to not attend a session on a holiday due to your religious or spiritual affiliation this will not be counted toward the absence credits available to you. In order to benefit from this policy we require at least three sessions prior notice.

On occasion, we cancel group sessions. In most instances, we will give you three weeks (sessions) notice prior to a cancellation. If we cannot give you three weeks notice, we will send a letter to your home address. If there is not enough time to send a letter, we will call you or leave you a message at your home phone. This makes it very important that you keep us updated at all times on your current home address and phone number. Sometimes, due to extenuating circumstances we will not have time to call you. If you are in question as to whether a group is canceled (for example, due to bad weather), please call to confirm the status of your group meeting.

9. SCHEDULING

Once you schedule yourself for a group you are expected to attend that group until your ADA status changes. All communication you need to make with the ADA program MUST be made by you. For example, ADA staff will NOT schedule or correspond with third parties about appointments, or acknowledge cancellations made by anyone other than you.

10. ASSIGNMENTS

ADA groups may require you to complete assignments, written or otherwise, by a specified date. Explanations of assignments will be given when you enter that group. If you have difficulty reading or writing, you may negotiate ways to complete your assignments. All assignments are to be completed before the beginning of the session that they are due.

Please turn in the following documents, filled out completely at your first group session:

• ADA Service Participant Questionnaire
• Do I Have a Reason? worksheet
• Income Documentation form, with documentation attached
• Identifying My Power and Control Tactics sheet
• Abuse History Worksheet

Quarterly Evaluation Of The ADA Program:

Once a quarter you will be asked to fill out a Quarterly Evaluation. This evaluation is anonymous. ADA/CSS is involved in Continuous Quality Improvement and we are always interested in ways in which we can improve our services. Although the Evaluations are not mandatory, we hope that your willingness to fill them out will provide us with important feedback about the ADA Program.

11. FOLDERS

The ADA Program is a learning classroom. At the Orientation session you are given a folder, a pen and educational materials. You will be completing many assignments and collecting more educational materials as you continue in the ADA Program. You are expected to bring your folder, a pen or pencil, and all your assignments and educational materials to every meeting you attend.

12. CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR

If you perpetrate any kind of criminal behavior, regardless of whether there is criminal justice system involvement or not, (including, but not limited to, assault, battery, stalking, violation of bond conditions, violation of probation conditions, violation of a restraining/protective order, violation of custody or visitation orders, nonpayment of child support, malicious destruction of property, drunk and disorderly, open intoxicants in a vehicle, impaired/drunk driving) you are required to inform your ADA group immediately.

13. ACCOUNTABILITY

If you commit acts of violence while you are involved with the ADA program we expect you to notify the court you are involved with, if any, immediately. In addition, ADA may report the violence to the court. If you are seeking ADA services without court involvement, and you commit acts of violence while you are involved with the ADA program, we expect you to report your violence to the criminal justice system immediately as a condition of continued service with the ADA Program. If it is assessed during your participation in the ADA program that abuse or neglect of children is occurring, we will make a report to the Children's Protective Services Department of the Family Independence Agency. We also expect you to report yourself.

14. ADA PROGRAM STATUS

A. Compliant Status

You are on Compliant Status when you have not exceeded the allowable absences.

B. Frozen Status

You are on Frozen Status when you are in violation of the ADA Tuition Policy regarding carrying a tuition balance (i.e. exceeding a balance of five payments without a properly filled out Tuition Balance Payment Agreement form). Frozen Status means that your status is "frozen" you will not be allowed to attend ADA groups until your balance is paid in full. In order to get off of Frozen Status you must pay your tuition balance in full. Once your tuition balance has been paid in full your status is "unfrozen" and you may begin attending ADA groups again and will return to Compliant Status with the same number of sessions you had accumulated prior to going on Frozen Status. You are expected to continue attending your ADA group while you are on Frozen Status. You will be placed on Discharge Status if you do not pay your balance in full and resume regular ADA group attendance within 60 days.

C. Non-Compliant Status

You are on Non-Compliant Status when you take absences in excess of the allowable amount. If you are on Non-Compliant Status you are expected to continue attending your group. Any absence(s) you take while on Non-Compliant Status will require you to attend an equal amount of Extra Group Sessions. You do not accumulate absence credit(s) while you are on non-compliant status. You will be expected to begin attending extra group sessions immediately. Immediately means this week or next week. Once you have attended your Extra Group Session(s) you will begin the six-week attendance cycle with one absence credit available to you.

In addition you may be required to complete an Accountability Review. An Accountability Review is a worksheet, which is available in the ADA group room, which helps you list what your actions were and what the accountable consequences could be.

D. Discharge Status

If you are discharged from the program and wish to return you must contact the ADA Program Director to schedule a Readmission Interview. A condition of attending a Readmission Interview, or returning to the ADA Program, may include paying any unpaid tuition balance. Being absent from ADA programming for 60 days or more will automatically result in your discharge. Remember: you will be discharged if you no- show or late-cancel to your scheduled assessment, on two occasions.

If you return to the ADA program after being discharged (for any reason) you will start the program over again. Violation of any of the readmission conditions may result in your being discharged.

15. GROUP PARTICIPATION

A. Requesting Agenda Time:

If you need time in a group session to discuss anything (including but not limited to exiting the group), write your name on the chalkboard, if possible before the group begins. This will alert the Group Leader that you are asking for time in the group's agenda. In Discovery write the word "exit" next to you name if you are wanting time to exit and write the word "feedback" next to your name if you want feedback on your DIHR worksheet.

B. Group Leader

The Group Leader is a group member selected by the previous weeks Group Leader. The Group Leader's responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Opening & Closing Observance, facilitating the group's agenda, explaining group assignments, and choosing monitors in Discovery Group for introductions and "Do I Have a Reason" worksheet reviews. If the selected Group Leader does not attend group, it is the Group's responsibility to select another Group Leader.

C. Group Starting Time:

It is the Group's responsibility to start group on time. If the Group Leader does not start or end the group on time every group member will receive an AIDA.

D. Opening & Closing Observance:

The Opening Observance is the beginning of group and is conducted by the Group Leader. The Observance may vary from group to group. The Opening Observance will begin exactly on time. During the Opening & Closing the group members are expected to pay attention to the Observance (for example, not writing or going through papers). The group leader may ask another group member to provide the reading for the Opening and/or Closing Observance. It is the Group Leaders responsibility to start and end the group on time. Potential Aida

E. Use of names:

When introducing yourself, or referring to other group members or any other person, use first names only and the first initial of a last name when necessary.

F. Respectful Discussion:

The stuffed animal is used when necessary in group to signify which person "has the floor" and is speaking.

G. Monitors:

In the Discovery Group, a monitor is chosen by the Group Leader to carefully listen to group members introductions, or their "Do I Have a Reason" worksheet reviews. The monitor listens to make sure that what is said by each group member is specific enough. For example;

• Were people's first names used?
• Was the example specific of what he did and how he did it?
• Is this example a reason to be in ADA?
• The example should not include "Why's" or "Because's" (don't write why you think you did this)
• Do not use words like "called", "told", or "said"

16. SERVICE AVAILABILITY STANDARDS REGARDING LITIGATION

ADA has the right to exclude from service any individual who is presently involved in legal litigation, custody, or divorce proceedings against the person whom they have historically battered if it is believed that the individual is using the proceedings to continue their tactics of harassment, coercion or intimidation. ADA may accept into the program this individual, once the individual has ceased using the proceedings in that manner or it is clear that the proceedings have been completed and/or it has been documented that there are no outstanding motions to amend or appeals of the orders or judgment of the court.

17. REQUESTS FOR CORRESPONDENCE

We require a minimum of two weeks notice before we will respond to your request for communication or correspondence with persons or agencies to whom you have signed an Information Release Authorization.

18. ALCOHOL/DRUG USE

Do not come on our premises if you are intoxicated (meaning ANY level of drug or alcohol consumption), unless this is because of a valid medical directive. Do not come on our premises in possession of alcohol or drugs without a valid, current prescription that belongs to you. Notify your facilitator immediately of any prescription medication you are receiving from your physician, or any other medication you are taking. You may also be required to sign an Information Release Authorization so that your facilitator can discuss the purpose of this prescription with your physician.

19. URINALYSIS and/or Breathalyzer

When we suspect you may be using drugs/alcohol in a problematic fashion and are being less than honest with us about your use, we may require that you obtain a urinalysis and/or breathalyzer test. This will assist us in comprehensively and quickly responding to problems that may arise in your life due to alcohol and/or drug use.

We may release the results of such testing to those parties/agencies for whom you have signed Information Release Authorizations. This will be done to expedite ongoing assessment, referral, reporting, and safety planning or treatment coordination with those parties/agencies. You are expected to go to a testing facility as requested by your group or facilitators and submit a specimen. Failure to submit a specimen as requested will be considered as a refusal to provide a specimen. You are responsible for all fees and costs incurred in testing.

20. FOOD

There is no food or drink of any kind allowed in any group session without prior staff approval (except with regard to children section #25 C). This includes candy, gum and cough medicine and non-edible items (for example straws, toothpicks, etc.).

21. CLOTHING

Wearing clothing, which is racist, degrading to women, makes reference to violence or oppression of any kind, or makes reference to drugs (including tobacco), alcohol, or drinking establishments will not be permitted. This policy also applies to anything you bring into our building with you, including tattoos, backpacks, cigarette packs, key chains, etc.

22. CSS FACILITY

A. Access to Group Room

Please do not come into the ADA Group Room(s) unannounced. When you enter the building please ask the receptionist to announce your arrival to the ADA staff. Once your arrival has been announced you may proceed to the group room.. If you arrive late, meaning any time after the specific starting time of the group, please inform the receptionist that you're here for an ADA meeting. The receptionist will announce your arrival after the initial 15 minutes of the group, at this point you may proceed to the group room. If you are here for an individual appointment please inform the receptionist upon your arrival.

B. Smoking

There is NO SMOKING allowed anywhere in the building, including the bathrooms. There is no smoking allowed on our front sidewalk, or near our front door.

C. Parking

Parking is available in the front agency parking lot. There is no parking permitted in the back parking lot of the agency. Also, please use the entry doors located at the front of the building (main entrance). Please do not use the exit door to the back parking lot.

23. TELECOMMUNICATION DEVICES

There will be no phone calls allowed during group or individual meeting times unless for the purpose of ADA business, and with staff approval. Pagers and cellular phones are permitted in group, as long as they are on silent mode (vibrate). If you need to use a CSS phone you must have permission from ADA staff.

24. WEAPONS

No one is permitted on CSS premises with any kind of weapon. In order to better serve you and your interest in living a violence-free life, you are encouraged to remove any weapons from your home. In some cases this may become mandatory.

25. CHILDREN

On occasion you may be without child care to be able to come to group. In those cases you are welcome to bring children to group as long as these terms are met:

• The children do not unduly disrupt the group, or destroy property
• You are able to remain focused and active in group
• You bring toys and snacks for your children
• You are not abusive to the children

26. OBSERVERS

In our desire to familiarize the community with our services, ADA staff invites those interested in our programming to observe our intervention groups. We hope that this activity will help increase ADA's accountability to battered women in our community and increase the public's knowledge of the unique dynamics involved in a batterer intervention service. Periodically there will be observers in your group. These observers might include students, interns, trainees, therapists, staff of women's service organizations, probation officers, clergy, interpreters, or others interested in stopping domestic violence. All observers will sign an agreement to maintain your confidentiality except in the case of your probation officer observing a group you are in.

27. AFTER YOU HAVE MET THE PROGRAM COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS

After you have met the Program Completion Requirements (Please see the ADA Accountability Workbook) you are welcome to continue attending for free. If you choose to make donations you are certainly welcome to do so, but it is not necessary. Expectations for you regarding attendance, assignments, etc. are then your responsibility to negotiate in group, with the group.

28. REVISIONS TO THE PROGRAM POLICIES MANUAL

Your ongoing participation in the ADA program will be governed by the policies written in this Manual. This Manual is revised from time to time to better serve the goal of non-violence and non-abusiveness in your life.

When a revision is made we will inform you at a group meeting. At this time you may be asked to sign a "Continued Consent to service and Understanding of The Revised Program Policy Manual" form. Copies of the revised Program Policies Manual are also available in the ADA Group room on the Forms shelf or you may request a copy from your facilitator.

Your participation in the ADA program will be subject to the Polices reflected in the most recently revised version of the ADA Program Polices Manual.

Exceptions to the Policies may be made by staff on a case by case basis.

29. CONSENT TO SERVICE

All ADA service participants will sign a Consent to Service Form before beginning the ADA Program.