The Gemma Model

Gemma's innovative transitional treatment is new to Santa Cruz County. Gemma's program design is developed from evidence-based practices of successful women's reentry programs across the state and country, and from local research utilizing client profiles and informal focus groups at the Blaine Street jail. Ample research over the past several years establishes that reentry support is perhaps the most significant element in helping formerly incarcerated people stay out of jail.

The Gemma transitional treatment program has three components: The Day Program, The Residential Program and the Aftercare Program. Gemma was designed to be long-term based on research which demonstrates a positive correlation between the amount of time spent in a treatment program and a person's success at reintegrating into the community and staying out of jail. Gemma is committed to helping women reunite with their families and the community, and to stop the revolving door of incarceration for them and their children. In addition to a safe place to live, Gemma provides an individually tailored program for women released from Blaine Street. By incorporating comprehensive services available in the community, Gemma combines housing with a multidisciplinary treatment team approach.

Gemma measures success by tracking each client's achievements of staying clean and sober, securing and maintaining employment, positive behavior change, compliance with probation, management of health needs, money management, and social support. Each woman's success is evaluated at the end of the Day Program and during each transition in the five phases of the Residential Program. Her level of success is based upon her personal baseline of incarceration, employment, health and housing history over the past three years prior to involvement in Gemma. Gemma recognizes that each woman's progress will at a different pace and level depending on her history.