Opportunities for Justice-Involved Men
Services include Education, Vocational Training, Medical Services, Cultural Groups, Treatment Programs, Mental Health Programs, and more.
Education Opportunities
The NERCC School Program offers a variety of academic opportunities for justice-involved men to participate in educational programming. They can work with teachers to enhance academic skills and/or prepare to take the GED tests. Teachers develop and present a variety of lesson plans to meet the goals of residents based on need and learning styles, and work with them in groups or individually.
The classroom is equipped with computers for residents to practice skills and study concepts necessary for the GED exams (GED testing is offered onsite). NERCC has celebrated residents who have completed their GED over the years, at times up to 30 graduates in one year. NERCC teachers also have an interactive whiteboard that is used for group lessons and activities.
Additional resources at the school include: library, private study rooms, and a gym for exercise when time permits.
Residents can receive assistance with: applying for their social security card; studying for their driver’s education exam; obtaining a state ID; and exploring post-secondary education, union apprenticeship programs, and career interests.
Supportive Programming
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Medical Services
NERCC contracts with St Luke’s Hospital for medical services who provide health care management for all NERCC residents.
Each resident receives a physical evaluation within one week of intake, establishing a case plan which addresses existing and new problems.
The continuation and/or screening of Medically Assisted Treatments (MAT) services are provided by the health care team at NERCC.
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Vocational Programs
The vocational programs at NERCC serve a variety of purposes. These programs teach residents skills needed in the workforce: punctuality, safety, following directions, working with others, responsibility, etc.
Secondly, the vocational work opportunities through the campus provide instruction in cooking, baking, meat cutting, mechanics, horticulture, carpentry, and building and equipment maintenance.
The following certificates can be achieved while at NERCC:
Certified Food Protection Manager
Meat Processing Certificate
Mechanic Basic Skills Certificate
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Cultural Enrichment Programming
At NERCC the African American Culture Group (AACG) and Native American Culture Group (NACG) coordinate on-site activities at least monthly.
The purpose of the AACG and the NACG is to provide education for each group’s members and to practice cultural activities of each community. The groups highlight nationally recognized holidays, sometimes hosting speakers from the larger community to present to all NERCC residents. NACG keeps a daily schedule of smudging / passing the pipe, while sweats are held on a monthly basis when a community member is available. The NERCC chaplain also assists with regular group meetings and with contacting community members.
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Parenting Classes
Weekly parenting classes, always popular with the men, are offered by a licensed Early Childhood / Family Education teacher from the Duluth School District, while Circle of Security parenting classes are presented through St. Louis County Public Health and Human Services Intensive Family Based Services.
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GED Programming
NERCC provides educational services and GED testing to residents who have not completed a high school diploma or GED. NERCC contracts with AEOA’s Adult Basic Education program for financial support in providing services to any NERCC resident needing education services and in providing ongoing training opportunities for NERCC’s teachers.
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College Opportunities
MN North College has partnered with NERCC through their Aspire North program to offer vocational education to qualifying residents at NERCC and upon release from NERCC.
NERCC offers extensive mental health programming to the men in the facility.
Below is the current list of providers and programming offered. Each resident is assigned a caseworker that assists with treatment programming, securing/restoring benefits, veterans services, rehabilitation services, drivers license/state ID, birth certificate, MNSure, Medical Assistance, the arrangement of aftercare services, ACT services, ARMHS workers, halfway house or supportive living placement.
Treatment & Mental Health
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Mental Health Recovery for Co-Occurring Disorders
NERCC contracts with Duluth Bethel to integrate Substance Use Disorder treatment and mental health services with NERCC’s Cognitive Self-Change program to provide the co-facilitated Mental Health and Recovery (MHR) treatment program.
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Domestic Abuse Intervention Program (DAIP)
DAIP’s program provides Men’s Nonviolence Classes to help men stop battering and begin exploring the consequences of the violence for themselves, their partner, and their children.
DAIP is world renowned (known internationally for The Duluth Model) for its work and effectiveness in treating men who batter.
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Intensive Outpatient Treatment (IOP)
NERCC contracts with the Duluth Bethel to provide Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors (LADC) to co-facilitate Substance Use Disorder treatment. A NERCC caseworker complements the treatment curriculum by integrating the Cognitive Self-Change program.
Even though residents are sentenced to NERCC, their treatment is licensed as an outpatient program. Aftercare programming for IOP treatment participants is provided for the continuation of care upon release.
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Mental Health Therapy & Counseling
Licensed therapists from the Human Development Center meet with residents referred by their caseworkers or medical staff for individual counseling on a range of personal concerns. Often a continuation of care is established so that an resident may continue working with the same therapist following his release.
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Treatment for Men Who Sexually Abused
NERCC has partnered with Illume North located in Duluth, MN to provide quality institutional treatment programming based on the foundation of promoting community safety through the provision of evidence-based best practices as recommended by the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers (ATSA). Learn More about Illume North.
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Psychiatry Services
Psychiatrists from the Human Development Center meet with the residents at NERCC and provide mental health services through assessment, referral or medication management. Often a continuation of care is made for the resident to continue to work with the same psychiatrist upon release.
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Cognitive -Behavioral Programming
NERCC integrates the longer-term Cognitive Self-Change program into both the Mental Health and Recovery treatment program and Intensive Outpatient Treatment. For residents at NERCC for a shorter time period, caseworkers provide Decision Points, a cognitive skills course that encourages participants to examine their thinking and the related actions that lead them into trouble.
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Chaplaincy Services
Victor St. George from CHUM (Christians United in Ministry) visits two times a week and offers restorative justice and religious services to our population.
Through restorative justice programming, NERCC men donate thousands of pounds of produce to area food shelfs, pumpkins to schools and other organizations, donate wreaths, donate hundreds of hours at area events such as the Air Show, Shrine Circus, Bentleyville, and United Way.
NERCC has set aside 10 available beds for per diem rates from outside the five county region (Carlton, Cook, Koochiching, Lake, St. Louis). The per diem rate is set at $75 per day. Substance Use Disorder treatment programming will be funded by the residents primary health insurance or consolidated funds through their home county.
For bed availability outside of the ARC region, contact Kathy Lionberger at 218-729-3411.
