Programs at Carson City Correctional: Education, Vocational Training, Substance Use (including MAT), and Mental Health Services

Carson City offers Adult Basic Education (ABE) as an academic program geared toward earning a GED certificate. If your loved one didn't finish high school, ABE is typically the starting point. It builds the reading, writing, and math foundation needed to move into GED preparation.

On the vocational side, Carson City lists Food Service Hospitality Management training for adult prisoners. Food service is one of the more realistic job markets to break into quickly after release, so this training can be a strong fit for anyone who wants hands-on skills that translate directly to outside work.

Carson City also offers an Employment Readiness program for adult prisoners. Think workplace basics: the habits and preparation that help someone keep a job, not just land one. If your loved one feels anxious about returning to work after time inside, this program gives them a structured place to start.

Carson City lists several substance use support options covering both structured treatment and peer support. The facility offers Substance Abuse Phase II programming and Advanced Substance Abuse Treatment (ASAT), which are more formal than a typical self-help group. Alongside those, NA and AA meetings are available too. These can help your loved one build a recovery routine and connect with others working toward the same goals.

Carson City houses over 525 Outpatient Mental Health (OPMH) prisoners across all custody levels. That number matters. It signals the facility is set up to provide ongoing mental health care to a sizable group of people, not just respond to emergencies.

The Outpatient Mental Health Team provides treatment and services for prisoners with a mental disability and/or behavioral disorder. Services include case management (which helps coordinate care and keep a plan on track) and medication monitoring for those taking mental health medications. Group therapy is also available, along with crisis management for urgent behavioral or mental health situations.

Participation Questions

• ✓ Is my loved one eligible for Adult Basic Education (ABE), and how does ABE connect to earning a GED?
• ✓ How does someone sign up for the Employment Readiness program, and when do new classes or cycles start?
• ✓ Is Food Service Hospitality Management available to my loved one, and are there custody level or other restrictions?
• ✓ What are the current options for Substance Abuse Phase II programming, and what does participation require?
• ✓ Is Advanced Substance Abuse Treatment (ASAT) available now, and how is placement decided?
• ✓ How do NA and AA meetings work at this facility (frequency, sign-up, and any participation rules)?
• ✓ For MAT, what are the eligibility requirements for opioid use disorder, and what is the referral process?
• ✓ If my loved one needs outpatient mental health services, how do they get connected to OPMH?
• ✓ What does OPMH case management look like for them day to day?
• ✓ If they are on mental health medications (or may need them), how does medication monitoring work through OPMH?
• ✓ Are there group therapy options through OPMH, and what are the expectations for attendance?
• ✓ If a crisis happens, how is crisis management handled and how can my loved one request help?

If your loved one is interested in any of these options, encourage them to ask their unit staff or assigned program contacts about enrollment. From your side, keeping a short list of questions ready (eligibility, start dates, and what they need to do to get referred) usually makes it easier to get clear answers when you reach the right office.