Date Presented 4/20/2018
Living in correctional facilities for long periods may cause occupational deprivation and hinder development of appropriate community reentry goals. This study suggests that an occupational therapy program that incorporates specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based (SMART) goal writing can help individuals in successful community reentry.
Primary Author and Speaker: Kelsey Rosswurm
Additional Authors and Speakers: Jeffrey Crabtree
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of using specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based (SMART) goals in an Occupational Therapy Community Living Skills (OTCLS) program to help people transition from prison to the community. Challenges people face when they reenter the community include finding adequate housing, obtaining mental health care services, reconnecting with family and friends, finding employment, and adhering to strict parole regulations—all occupations that require effective goal-setting skills (Travis et al., 2014). In addition, studies show that a majority of individuals released from prison return within 3 yr (Durose et al., 2014). Incarceration over many years can cause occupational deprivation and inhibit people’s ability to make and follow through with goals (Wilcock, 1998). We hypothesized that learning how to write SMART goals could help long-term prison residents establish practical goals and strategies to help them prepare for release and develop goal-writing skills to help them successfully and productively live in society.
METHOD: In this quasi-experimental study, participants (N = 14) living in a restricted minimum-security correctional facility participated in the five-Friday OTCLS program, an informal educational program focused on writing SMART goals related to finding adequate housing, reconnecting with family and friends, finding employment, and other critical occupations for successful reentry into society. The program was administered by occupational therapists and occupational therapy students. Resident dorm specialists referred residents aged 28–58 who had served 4–24 years in prison. Participants were expected to be released from the facility in 3 mo to 4 yr.
Participants were asked to create three to five goals they could attain while living in the facility and one or two goals they could attain once released. Using goal attainment scaling (GAS; Kiresuk & Sherman, 1968), we first scaled each goal by the 4th week of the program. Then each goal was scored based on GAS at the completion of the OTCLS program (5th Friday), 30 days after OTCLS program completion, and 90 days after OTCLS program completion. A Friedman test was run to determine differences in GAS scores after program completion, 30 days postcompletion, and 90 days postcompletion. Pairwise comparisons were performed with a Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons.
RESULTS: Findings based on preliminary data (n = 5) suggest that goal setting can be a useful means of preparing individuals for release. GAS scores were significantly different at the different time points, χ2(3) = 14.362, p < .0005. Post hoc analysis revealed significant differences between preprogram (Mdn = 0) and 90 days postprogram GAS scores (Mdn = 2; p < .0005).
CONCLUSION: he ability to develop SMART goals as part of an occupational therapy program is likely to result in positive client outcomes. For people who have been incarcerated, developing SMART goal-writing skills may help them live successful and productive lives outside of prison and thus reduce recidivism. This study provides evidence suggesting that including goal-writing skills in occupational therapy practice and is important and a potentially powerful means to prepare individuals who are incarcerated for their release back into society.
References
Durose, M. R., Cooper, A. D., & Snyder, H. N. (2014). Recidivism of prisoners released in 30 states in 2005: Patterns from 2005 to 2010—Update. Washington, DC: Bureau of Justice Statistics. Retrieved from https://www.bjs.gov/index.cfm?ty=pbdetail&iid=4986
Kiresuk, T. J., & Sherman, R. E. (1968). Goal attainment scaling: A general method for evaluating comprehensive community mental health programs. Community Mental Health Journal, 4, 443–453. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf01530764
Travis, J., Western, B., & Redburn, F. S. (2014). The growth of incarceration in the United States: Exploring causes and consequences. Washington, DC: National Academies Press.
Wilcock, A. (1998). An occupational perspective of health. Thorofare, NJ: Slack.
