KPEP Programs
Programming at KPEP
KPEP began in the fall of 1980 to provide a live-in residence for those individuals who need more structure than regular probation provides, but where extended jail time is not judged necessary. The goal of KPEP is to show residents that they can become independent, contributing members of society. The organization works closely with all aspects of the criminal justice system, including local law enforcement departments, corrections, probation and parole departments, as well as circuit court judges.
Residential Programs
Designed with the goal of assisting both male and female offenders in becoming productive members of society, standard residential programming consists of cognitive behavioral therapy, employability skills, substance abuse assessment and education, obtaining and maintaining employment, and a minimum of 60 hours a week of structured activities. Case management services assist in identifying and individualizing needs specific to each offender, as well as monitoring and evaluating progress. A minimum of 60 hours of community service are required prior to successful completion for those eligible. GED preparation and testing, self help group attendance such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, and spiritual emphasis programming are available to all residents. The length of stay (between 90 and 150 days) is dependent on resident programming progress.
Locations: Berrien County, Calhoun County, Kalamazoo – Chicago Ave., Kalamazoo – Olmstead Rd., Muskegon County
KPEP’s residential programming offers services under local, state and federal contracts. Individuals referred are assessed and offered a wide array of programming that may include:
- Substance use disorder workshops/treatment
- Employability skills class
- GED
- 12-Step groups
- Community service
- Employment
- Cognitive behavior therapy
- Life skills programming
- Sex offender treatment
- Vocational training programming
Participants are court ordered to participate as the result of a determinant sentence with requirements including cognitive behavioral therapy, employability skills, obtaining and maintaining employment, and substance abuse assessment and education as needed.
GED preparation and completion, self help group attendance such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, and treatment services as determined by assessment are available to all residents.
Locations: Berrien County, Calhoun County, Kalamazoo – Chicago Ave., Kalamazoo – Olmstead Rd., Muskegon County
Intended as a short term sanction for drug court participants that are not in compliance with requirements of the drug court program. Referrals will be individually assessed and follow an individualized client service plan.
Locations: Kalamazoo – Chicago Ave, Kalamazoo – Olmstead Rd.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons Residential Re-Entry Center (RRC) is designed to house and provide support services for offenders who are in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons or under the supervision of the United States Probation Office. The objective of the RRC is to provide comprehensive community-based services including care, custody, accountability and treatment. Residents are assessed and directed to programming as identified by the courts, case management staff and objective assessment tools. These may include employability skills class, employment, transitional living skills, cognitive behavioral therapy, substance use disorder programming, mental health support, residence development and other support services as deemed necessary.
Locations: Kalamazoo – Chicago Ave., Berrien County, Calhoun County
Locations: Berrien County, Calhoun County, Kalamazoo – Chicago Ave., Kalamazoo – Olmstead Rd., Muskegon County
Intended as a highly structured intervention the Residential Sexual Abuse Prevention Program is a combination of strict supervision and cognitive behavior-based therapy. A minimum of 25 hours of staff-led programming per week is required, including sex offender specific group and individual treatment sessions, substance abuse treatment, and didactic programming. Cognitive behavioral interventions designed to address the irrational beliefs and thinking patterns, as well as relapse prevention strategies are the primary focus of treatment.
Locations: Berrien County, Calhoun County, Kalamazoo – Olmstead Rd., Muskegon County
Designed as a short or long term residential stay in a therapeutic environment. This highly structured intervention includes group and individual treatment sessions, daily cognitive behavioral group sessions focusing on criminal and addictive thinking patterns, and programming designed with the therapeutic community philosophy of change. KPEP specializes in working with those involved in the criminal justice system.
Locations: Kalamazoo – Chicago Ave. (Male and Female)
A step-down unsupervised residence for those without suitable housing.
Locations: Muskegon County (Female Only), Kalamazoo – Chicago Ave., Kalamazoo – Olmstead Rd., and Van Buren County
Outpatient Programs
With the goal of reducing the incidence of aggressive behavior, participants focus on developing the ability to deal with emotions and stress. During this 12 week intervention, participants are required to look at their behaviors and identify alternative ways to handle situations.
Locations: Calhoun County, Kalamazoo – Chicago Ave.
Based on the Duluth Model, the batterer’s intervention program varies from 26 to 52 weeks based on the needs and risk levels of the individuals referred. Topics such as intimidation, emotional abuse, coercion and sexual abuse are discussed before healthier behaviors are taught.
Locations: Calhoun County, Kalamazoo – Chicago Ave.
Utilizing a cognitive behavioral approach, treatment structure is based on the curriculum Group Treatment for Substance Abuse – A Stages of Change Manual by Velasquez, Maurer, Crouch. Modules address both criminality and substance abuse by improving the offender’s coping ability through skill development. Interventions are intended to correct thinking distortions and errors and deficits in problem-solving and reasoning. Skill development is utilized to enhance skills intended to reduce relapse/recidivism.
Locations: Kalamazoo – Chicago Ave., Berrien County, Muskegon County and Calhoun County
Designed as a systematic treatment strategy that seeks to decrease recidivism among adult criminal offenders by increasing moral reasoning, the MRT curriculum utilizes a cognitive behavioral approach to the change process. The MRT workbook is structured around 16 objectively defined steps (units) focusing on seven basic treatment issues: confrontation of beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors; assessment of current relationships; reinforcement of positive behavior and habits; positive identity formation; enhancement of self-concept; decrease in hedonism and development of frustration tolerance; and development of higher stages of moral reasoning.
Locations: Kalamazoo – Chicago Ave., Berrien County
Using a multidimensional, integrative approach to the treatment of sexual deviance, treatment strategies focus on the behaviors, symptoms, dynamics and social or interpersonal problems that often underline sexual offenses. Services include sex offender specific assessments, individual treatment, and group treatment services.
Locations: Kalamazoo – Chicago Ave., Calhoun County, Berrien County
Assessments designed to identify substance abuse, sexual deviancy, domestic violence, and criminal thinking tendencies include a face-to-face interview and are supported by objective testing instruments.
Locations: Berrien County, Calhoun County, Kalamazoo – Chicago Ave., Muskegon County
Designed to target five of the “Big Six” identified criminogenic needs, The Courage to Change curriculum addresses anti-social values, criminal peers, low self control, dysfunctional family ties, and criminal personality. Working in collaboration with Northpointe, the developers of the Correctional Offender Management Profiling for Alternative Sanctions (COMPAS) risk needs assessment tool, this curriculum was designed to align with the risk/need domains of the COMPAS.
Locations: Calhoun County, Kalamazoo – Chicago Ave., Berrien County
Vocational Programs
KPEP’s Building Trades and Hospitality Vocational Training programs provide students with on-the-job training in their area of choice. Both programs are eight to 10 weeks long and include OSHA and CPR/first aid certifications.
Program Leadership
Our building trades program is an eight to ten week program that includes OSHA 10 and CPR/first aid certifications. The program consists of four hours of classroom time and 24 hours of job site training each week.
Curriculum Includes:
1. Introduction
2. Site inspection
3. Work site safety
4. Construction math
5. CPR/first aid
6. OSHA ten certification
7. Basic prevention/simple home repairs
8. Tool safety
9. OSHA safety standards
10. Job preparedness
11. Soft skills
The hospitality program at KPEP is an eight to ten week program that includes:
AHLEI (American Hotel Lodging Education Institute) certification of your choice
CPR/first aid certification
ServeSafe Food Handlers certification
OSHA-10 certification
The program offers certifications in one of the following areas:
Breakfast attendant
Front desk representative
Maintenance employee
Guestroom attendant
Restaurant server
Kitchen cook
Residents will also get experience in the production kitchen preparing food for the Walnut & Park Café and Washington Square Diner, as well as hands on experience working in either the Café or Diner itself.
CASEY GRISOLONO, FOOD SERVICE DIRECTOR
Email: cgrisolono@kpep.com
Phone: 269-903-0577
When Casey Grisolono contracted to assist in planning and launching the new vocational training program for the Walnut and Park Cafe in October 2016, she brought 15 years of cafe management and food service with her. After coming on full time in 2017 as Vocational Program Manager, she led program expansion and initiated plans for a second cafe location. In May 2019, Casey was named Food Service Director and now oversees in-house food service operations throughout KPEP residential facilities. Since then, Casey has played an integral role in the planning and development of the Washington Square Diner.
