Program Overview, Curriculum, and Delivery

Program Overview 
Driving With Care (DWC) is a manual-guided, cognitive-behavioral education and treatment program for persons convicted of driving while ability impaired (DWI). Clients learn about their own patterns of drug use/abuse and how to make cognitive and behavioral changes to prevent recidivism into DWI behavior and future involvement in a pattern of alcohol or other drug (AOD) use. It  focuses on the egocentric (addressing individual problems)  and the sociocentric (enhancing moral and social responsibility) areas of change which are two important pathways to positive personal and prosocial adjustment and to preventing relapse and recidivism.  

DWC involves clients in a process of interactive assessment to measure their change skills and the outcome of applying these skills to their ongoing daily living. DWC is appropriate for DWI offenders at all levels of the judicial system.

Program Curriculum 
DWC is comprised of a three tier, evidenced-based, manual-guided program.

• The Level I Education is a basic alcohol and other drug (AOD) and DWI  education program comprised of six, two-hour lessons designed for first-time impaired driving offenders who have no indicators of an alcohol or other drug (AOD) problem other than being convicted of an impaired driving offense.
• Level II Education is an enhanced AOD and DWI education program comprised of 12, two-hour lessons and is meant for DWI clients with some indication of an AOD problem beyond impaired driving and who have higher levels of arrest BAC.
• Level II Therapy is a treatment program for impaired driving offenders comprised of 21, two-hour sessions for DWI clients who definitely have some level of an AOD problems, higher levels of arrest BAC, and prior AOD/DWI education and/or treatment. The treatment program is designed to be included with and to follow the Level II education program.

The Driving with Care (DWC): Education and Treatment of the Underage Impaired Driving Offender is a single manual designed to assist counselors who educate and treat DWI offenders under the age of 21. It is a complement to the regular DWC manuals and is utilized in combination with them in order to provide quality care for younger clients.

Program Delivery
DWC can be delivered by substance abuse and correctional specialists, counselors or therapists, and treatment agencies who meet the qualifications in their county, state, or other government jurisdiction for the delivery of AOD education and/or treatment services. In some states and jurisdictions, providers and/or agencies have to meet qualifications to deliver treatment services to offender populations beyond those required for servicing AOD clients.