THE RIDGE HOUSE (NV)

Program Description
The Ridge House (also referred to as Statewide Ridge House Collaborative) is a nonprofit organization that operates the only residential treatment facility for former offenders in Nevada. The Ridge House began in 1982 and acts as a service provider for the Nevada Department of Parole and Probation. It is an outgrowth of KAIROS, a faith-based prison ministry. Although it operates in many prisons in the country, its headquarters are in Winter Park, Florida. Ridge House is also a consultant to The Seventh Day Adventist Church/ Haven Bound Prison Ministry in Northern Nevada. The faith component of Ridge House is non-denominational, however. Currently, six residential facilities, in Reno, house seven clients each. A seventh house, which is relatively small and new, is located in Las Vegas.

The Ridge House provides residential and outpatient counseling including vocational rehabilitation and substance abuse counseling, mental health treatment, computer classes, parenting classes, and classes on developing careers. Services are offered in a family-style therapeutic manner and are classified under three categories— stabilization, habilitation, and re-entry. During the stabilization phase, clients are asked to sign a contract at intake outlining certain milestones that residents must meet, for example, finding employment within seven working days, paying for room and board, and contributing to household chores. During this initial phase, former offenders receive support from staff while learning the necessary skills for self-responsibility. The Ridge House also provides habilitation services, providing former offenders with substance abuse treatment, GED classes, parenting classes, and life skills training. The Ridge House also provides re-entry skills, through which, upon discharge from the program, clients will have addressed their substance abuse issues, built a strong network, and been transferred to The Ridge House aftercare component.

Program Goals
The goal of The Ridge House is to reduce recidivism by empowering former prisoners.

Networking, Partnering & Collaboration
In northern Nevada, The Ridge House collaborates with several drug and alcohol agencies and has established many community partnerships. These include Planned Parenthood of Nevada; the Department of Education, Training, and Rehabilitation; Northern Nevada Center for Independent Living; Clark County School District; and the Nevada Department of Parole and Probation.

Outcomes
In collaboration with the Department of Corrections, The Ridge House conducts regular analyses of how many program participants are returned to prison. Since 1991, fewer than 30 percent of program participants were returned to prison within three years after release. The Statewide Ridge House Collaborative (two agencies at opposite ends of the state) had an overall 20 percent return rate at the end of 2001. In addition, all program offices are expected to achieve 85 percent customer satisfaction. A federally funded evaluation in is about to be undertaken.

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