COEUR d’ALENE — A program that has helped hundreds change negative behaviors and forge a new direction in life is shutting down in May.

Coeur d’Alene Program Manager Douglas Miller said the program through GEO Reentry Services and Idaho Department of Correction offers a way for people struggling with sobriety and probation to change their way of thinking,

“We do a lot of work with cognitive behavioral patterns at changing some of the negative thinking that they would have with regards to criminal activity, law enforcement and even other people in their own lives,” Miller said. 

Miller said that his office along with six others throughout the state will shutter after their contract was unable to be renewed due to state budget issues. 

The local monthly cost for the Coeur d’Alene location is $58,100, according to the GEO Reentry Services contract with the Idaho Department of Correction.

There were no additional sources of revenue, as the program was fully funded through state general funds.

“They’re doing it in a step-down so we can really focus on each office and really give as much as we can to make sure they are set and are ready with probation and their treatment providers to really take the reins,” Miller said.  

Two offices closed at the end of March, three, including the Coeur d’Alene office are closing at the end of April and the last two are closing at the end of May. 

There are currently six team members working in Coeur d'Alene and about 18 individuals will make up the final graduating class later in April. 

“Seeing that a lot of people have done well in this program, it’s bitter, but then you look at the sweet as far as the success the program has had and you can’t discount those just because we’re closing," Miller said.

Miller said going through the probation process is hard enough, but for the 80 to 90 people who are in the reentry program at any given period of time, they are working to rewire their whole system of thinking. 

It usually takes about nine months for an individual to graduate from the program, which gives people the tools and resources to connect with community in healthy and meaningful ways, find jobs that are above-board and undergo cognitive behavioral treatment.

GEO Reentry Services has been in the area for just over five years and Miller said the team members in Coeur d’Alene are solidifying their next jobs before the office closes its doors April 30. 

Since they’ve opened, Coeur d’Alene has hosted two graduations a year and about 200 people have successfully completed the program going through anger management classes, life skills classes and finding work. 

“People have really just grown in the program just learning to be productive members in their own community. One of our first graduates is actually getting close to graduating college and being a substance abuse counselor,” Miller said. 

To see them make foundational changes to their lives put on caps and gowns to mark the milestone can be emotional for the people who worked with them through dark periods to make sure they made it over the finish line.  

“There are times when we worry that an individual will struggle with the program or just have a tough time, but then they just turn around and absolutely shine,” Miller said. “To see those strides and see them graduate and be able to really affect change in their lives moving forward is just amazing.”