| Community Assessment & Treatment Services, Inc. Rebuilding Lives, Reunifying Families |
CATS Plus |
| 12802 Kinsman Road Cleveland, Ohio 44120 216-491-4889 |
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CATS Plus was established by Community Assessment & Treatment Services,
Inc. (CATS) in 2007.
CATS Plus has four categories of the program that we emphasize for the clients:
1. Sobriety
2. Housing
3. Jobs
4. Health
The first emphasis is on sobriety. We only accept clients coming out of sobriety
programs, or ones who have been referred by Drug Court, that we can be
assured are sober. We test them upon arrival and randomly throughout the
program. We use the therapeutic community format, intensive case
management, intensive out-patient sessions, after care, and A.A. or N. A.
meetings. Our staff meets weekly to maintain a cohesive approach to the clients.
The case manager interacts with the clients weekly in a one on one format and
then also communicates with court staff through telephone calls and e-mail to
provide progress reports on the clients. The case manager and program director
communicate monthly with Drug Court and as needed with a researcher
associated with Drug Court.
The CATS Plus program is normally a 12 month program, with the first 9 months
devoted to teaching the clients work skills and life skills. During the last 3
months, in addition to work assignments, the clients are assisted by the case
manager in their search for housing and employment. Clients referred by Drug
Court are normally in the CATS Plus program for 6 months. Drug Court pays for
their care and training during this time utilizing funds from a Federal grant. At the
completion of 6 months, at the client’s election, he may extend his enrollment
without federal grant support and CATS Plus will assist the client in obtaining
housing and employment like regular clients in their last phase of the program.
One aspect of the CATS Plus program that makes it unique in the field of
transitional housing is the utilization of stipends as an incentive to acquired
responsibility in addition to room and board.. Most transitional housing
programs pay no stipends at all. For administrative purposes it is assumed that
all new clients enter mid-month and receive ½ month’s stipend ($25.00) at the
middle of the next month. At the middle of every succeeding month, the stipend
is $50.00. As clients acquire more work skills and take on more responsibility,
they can become crew leaders and earn a monthly stipend of $100.00 If a client
displays the ability to shoulder still more responsibility, he can become a driver of
a CATS Plus vehicle or a resident advocate, helping to supervise the operation of
the house when staff is off-duty. Both of these positions earn a stipend of
$200.00/month. There is no double-dipping and the client is paid the stipend
appropriate to the most responsible position.
One of the most important aspects of the CATS Plus program is a commitment to
education of the clients. The case manager has found a G.E.D. program within
walking distance of the house and has more than 50% of current clients enrolled
in that program after working hours. Visiting speakers are brought ito the house
to educate the clients on life skills such as checking and savings accounts, credit
reports, budgeting, child support, and job search programs. The case manager
assists clients in setting up FASA applications for tuition assistance at local
colleges when their academic background permits.
All clients receive a physical from Care Alliance or Metro Health upon entering
CATS Plus. The case manager gets each client rated by the financial officer at
Metro Health to facilitate future health care needs. Many of the clients have
medical or dental issues brought on or exacerbated by former drug usage. Any
health issues are dealt with promptly to minimize complications and to inculcate
good health habits in the client population. If a client states that he is sick and
cannot work, he must visit either a doctor or an emergency room that day. This
encourages good health habits and discourages malingering.
In order to encourage safe work habits, both on CATS Plus jobsites and in later
life, a safety program is being developed. Periodic presentations are made
during daily closure meetings and clients are tested on the concepts presented.
To see a brochure with information about CATS Plus click:
CATS Plus Brochure
To Contact CATS Plus about eligibility for their program please call :
Denise Uter
Case Manager
216-491-4930
Inc. (CATS) in 2007.
CATS Plus has four categories of the program that we emphasize for the clients:
1. Sobriety
2. Housing
3. Jobs
4. Health
The first emphasis is on sobriety. We only accept clients coming out of sobriety
programs, or ones who have been referred by Drug Court, that we can be
assured are sober. We test them upon arrival and randomly throughout the
program. We use the therapeutic community format, intensive case
management, intensive out-patient sessions, after care, and A.A. or N. A.
meetings. Our staff meets weekly to maintain a cohesive approach to the clients.
The case manager interacts with the clients weekly in a one on one format and
then also communicates with court staff through telephone calls and e-mail to
provide progress reports on the clients. The case manager and program director
communicate monthly with Drug Court and as needed with a researcher
associated with Drug Court.
The CATS Plus program is normally a 12 month program, with the first 9 months
devoted to teaching the clients work skills and life skills. During the last 3
months, in addition to work assignments, the clients are assisted by the case
manager in their search for housing and employment. Clients referred by Drug
Court are normally in the CATS Plus program for 6 months. Drug Court pays for
their care and training during this time utilizing funds from a Federal grant. At the
completion of 6 months, at the client’s election, he may extend his enrollment
without federal grant support and CATS Plus will assist the client in obtaining
housing and employment like regular clients in their last phase of the program.
One aspect of the CATS Plus program that makes it unique in the field of
transitional housing is the utilization of stipends as an incentive to acquired
responsibility in addition to room and board.. Most transitional housing
programs pay no stipends at all. For administrative purposes it is assumed that
all new clients enter mid-month and receive ½ month’s stipend ($25.00) at the
middle of the next month. At the middle of every succeeding month, the stipend
is $50.00. As clients acquire more work skills and take on more responsibility,
they can become crew leaders and earn a monthly stipend of $100.00 If a client
displays the ability to shoulder still more responsibility, he can become a driver of
a CATS Plus vehicle or a resident advocate, helping to supervise the operation of
the house when staff is off-duty. Both of these positions earn a stipend of
$200.00/month. There is no double-dipping and the client is paid the stipend
appropriate to the most responsible position.
One of the most important aspects of the CATS Plus program is a commitment to
education of the clients. The case manager has found a G.E.D. program within
walking distance of the house and has more than 50% of current clients enrolled
in that program after working hours. Visiting speakers are brought ito the house
to educate the clients on life skills such as checking and savings accounts, credit
reports, budgeting, child support, and job search programs. The case manager
assists clients in setting up FASA applications for tuition assistance at local
colleges when their academic background permits.
All clients receive a physical from Care Alliance or Metro Health upon entering
CATS Plus. The case manager gets each client rated by the financial officer at
Metro Health to facilitate future health care needs. Many of the clients have
medical or dental issues brought on or exacerbated by former drug usage. Any
health issues are dealt with promptly to minimize complications and to inculcate
good health habits in the client population. If a client states that he is sick and
cannot work, he must visit either a doctor or an emergency room that day. This
encourages good health habits and discourages malingering.
In order to encourage safe work habits, both on CATS Plus jobsites and in later
life, a safety program is being developed. Periodic presentations are made
during daily closure meetings and clients are tested on the concepts presented.
To see a brochure with information about CATS Plus click:
CATS Plus Brochure
To Contact CATS Plus about eligibility for their program please call :
Denise Uter
Case Manager
216-491-4930