Programs at New Castle Correctional Facility that help your loved one rebuild their life

Case management is the practical starting point for reentry planning at NCCF. Each housing unit has a case manager who helps with release preparation - things like finding housing and connecting with outside resources. NCCF also runs the PLUS program, which gives people tools to become productive members of their communities after they get out.

Beyond that foundation, NCCF participates in the Ivy Tech Correctional Education Program. This includes adult basic education and vocational training - a building trades class is one of the options. For someone trying to leave with employable skills, that kind of hands-on training can matter a lot.

Thinking for a Change 4.0 (T4C) is a structured cognitive-behavioral program offered at NCCF. It combines cognitive restructuring, social skills development, and problem-solving practice. The goal? Help someone slow down their thinking, recognize patterns that lead to trouble, and make different choices in situations that used to set them off.

Interested in T4C? The best route is through the housing unit case manager. Since case managers focus on release planning and outside connections, they're the natural person to ask about available programming and what steps to take to get considered.

NCCF also offers the InsideOut Dad curriculum, designed for incarcerated fathers. It focuses on bridging the gap between a dad and his children - something that's hard to maintain from inside, especially if the relationship was already strained. This program gives fathers a clearer way to talk about parenting, responsibility, and how to show up differently moving forward.

Enrollment depends on what's running and available space. Your loved one should bring it up with their housing unit case manager - that's the staff role specifically positioned to help with reentry preparation and figure out what options are open.

For recovery support, NCCF offers Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) programs. If addiction has been part of what led to incarceration - or what kept your loved one cycling through problems - these groups provide a steady place to focus on recovery while inside.

To participate in AA or NA, your loved one can start by asking within their housing unit. The case manager who helps with release preparation is a good first contact for questions about available recovery supports.

The PLUS program is another key support at NCCF. The Indiana Department of Correction uses PLUS to give people the tools they need to reenter society and contribute to their communities. When your loved one talks about "getting ready for the outside," this program turns that idea into concrete habits and planning.

Education and job training can make reentry feel less like a cliff and more like a plan. NCCF participates in the Ivy Tech Correctional Education Program, offering adult basic education and vocational programs - including a building trades class. Ask your loved one what classes or training they're working on now, and what they'd like to finish before release.

How Families Can Learn

• ✓ Ask your loved one directly what programs they’re currently in, and what they’re trying to enroll in next.
• ✓ Call the facility’s main line and ask what information they can share about program enrollment or completion.

Here's how NCCF is set up: each housing unit has a case manager who helps with release preparation, including housing and outside resources. If your loved one isn't sure where to start, encourage them to talk to their case manager. It moves the conversation from "I want to do better" to specific next steps.