Participants are considered for phase advancement into phase II when they have conducted themselves over time in a manner that reflects cognitive and behavioral readiness. Phase I is a point in time where participants are receiving a lot of personal information and the expectation is that they conform and adapt to what is being asked of them. Once the participant is observed demonstrating learned skills and understanding of their volition and has successfully completed primary treatment service objectives, then and only then, will the participant be considered for phase advancement from phase I to phase II.
Primary treatment services are usually defined as those initial services a participant has been referred into for substance use or mental health identified needs. Additional services may be recommended for various reasons but are not considered primary. A participant may remain in primary status and receive multiple treatments or therapeutic placement options, this may occur due to the participant continuing to act out and be in need of multiple placements.
While in phase II honesty and independent living skills are expected without exception. Responsible functioning with the drug court office and the external world in all communications and affairs therein is now the gold standard. Phase II is a healthy display of social and occupational functioning and the stability in a defined recovery program. If the participant hasn’t secured a high school diploma then a GED becomes the expected goal. If appropriate, other scholastic goals can be incorporated at this time as well, i.e., college courses, English as a second language classes, etc.
Participants in phase II may be required to complete aftercare/relapse prevention or other decided upon supervised supportive living services. These types of services, if selected, are not to be seen as a punishment but necessary additions to one’s recovery program.
Participant’s movement backward into phase I may occur while in phase II. Typically, a movement backwards does not occur unless a participant’s observed behavior(s) are deemed as extreme or occur in an accumulative capacity. Behaviors that may place a participant back into a previous phase may include but are not limited to drug use, lying, failure to show, aggressive acting out, etc.