2023 - Flipbook - Page 10
B E H A V I O R A L H E A LT H C A R E
S
CC uses a trauma-informed, assets-based whole person approach to all of our re-entry and recovery work. People in prison
have a constitutional right to health care. However, they have no control over the quality of that care, or how it is provided.
SCC’s guiding philosophy is that our clients should be able to choose the health care that they want – instead of being
grateful for whatever the system chooses to dispense or enforce.
Returning citizens are vulnerable and traumatized – they are accustomed to being ordered to participate in treatment and
testing. But to be effective, mental health/substance use treatment requires choice and autonomy in a supportive environment
where trust has already been established.
David Coleman’s journey to SCC began in 1982 when he joined
the U.S. Marine Corps straight out of George Washington High
School. Within three years, he had a loving wife, two small children
and a serious drug habit. He was honorably discharged and found
new employment, but one night, as he explains, “I got this stupid
idea that I would rob the local drug dealer. My wife begged me
to stay home, but I left the house with a sawn-off shotgun and
ended up killing a young man the same age as me.” David was
sentenced to life in prison and immediately threw himself into
self-improvement projects: he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Social
Psychology from Regis University, worked out at the gym, and took
every possible prison program. He was known on the cell block as
“Big Dave” for both his muscles and his intellect.
Twenty years on, it was a unique prison program, “The 7
I realized that at the age of 40, while I had this degree
Habits of Highly Effective People,” that opened David’s
and all these certifications, I still hadn’t grown as a person.
eyes to the critical changes he had yet to make. “I realized When the instructor asked, “What are your values?” I
that at the age of 40, while I had this degree and all these
discovered I didn’t have any.
David Coleman
certifications, I still hadn’t grown as a person. When the
instructor asked, ‘What are your values,’ I discovered I didn’t have any.”
That day changed the trajectory of David’s life. Not overnight, and not
without difficulty, but gradually he discovered that integrity, trustworthiness
and a deep connection to his fellow human beings mattered more than
anything else. His life gained purpose and even though he had no hope
of release,he committed himself to helping and supporting his fellow
prisoners.
After serving 35 years in prison, he was recommended to Governor
Hickenlooper for clemency and released. Today we are blessed to have
him at Second Chance Center as Associate Director of Behavioral Health
Services. David is committed to assisting men and women as returning
citizens back to the community after incarceration and every week he leads
client-partners in the 7 Habits program. He’s committed to his faith, family,
and service which are values that give him a deep sense of purpose and
meaning in life. Spending time with family and his granddaughter is the
greatest joy. He believes our relationships are the most important things
we have. And that lasting change in his life will be sustained by those key
relationships and the support of others.
8
PEER MENTORING
Peer to peer support forms the bedrock of
SCC’s re-entry programming. Never Going
Back (NGB) forms the core of SCC’s
approach to addressing the needs of
people leaving prison. It is based on
founder Hassan Latif’s book, Never
Going Back: 7 Steps to Staying Out
of Prison, and uses lived experience
combined with proven clinical
theories and models of behavior,
made accessible with conversational
language and real-life examples.
Hope Driven Purpose is an adaption
of NGB introduced in 2022 as a
support group for women designed
to meet their unique needs.
