Emma Perry

I was a case management intern at ATTIC Correctional Services- Foster House this summer. ATTIC stands for Alternatives to Traditional Incarceration of Citizens; therefore, ATTIC offers residential treatment and reentry services, primarily across Wisconsin. The location where I interned was a residential treatment center where clients partake in a 90-day program as an alternative to revocation or based on an identified need, as determined by their probation/parole officer. Foster is one of three residential locations in Madison, and the clientele is high-risk/high-needs offenders. As Foster is not located near any schools or parks, Foster often receives clientele who have been convicted of sex crimes. In the program, clients participate in groups, including Thinking for a Change, AODA, Co-Occuring Disorders, Anger Management, Healthy Relationships, Employment Maintenance, and Seeking Safety. As clients progress in their time at Foster, they can earn more time for leisure outside of the facility and gain employment, as approved by their probation/parole officers. Clients must abide by house rules, do chores, respect staff and other clients, and attend groups. My responsibilities this summer included observing and assisting groups, assisting with daily facility operations, such as grocery shopping, working the front desk, helping with house searches, etc., participating and assisting in intake and discharge assessments, meeting with clients directly one-on-one to provide them with housing resources, employment assistance, etc., and interacting with clients to build trusting relationships and discuss mental health and well-being. This fall, I am applying to the Master’s of Social Work (MSW) program at UW-Madison, hoping to complete my MSW by spring 2026. My desired career path is to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) providing therapeutic and case management services in a correctional setting, such as a prison or jail. My experience at ATTIC provided me with immense knowledge about how to work with clients in the criminal justice system, the functioning of the criminal justice system, and therapeutic techniques. In addition, I gained a supportive and knowledgeable network of individuals in the field. The experience, information, and network I gained from ATTIC will support my growth in this field.