KIDS of El Paso was a true 'therapeutic community' that took a participative group-based approach to long-term treatment for substance abuse, behavioral, and eating disorders. Rap therapy was at the core of the recovery treatment model used by the program.
Most days, KIDS teens were at the building from 8:00 am to 9:00 pm. During this time they participated in several raps throughout the day. A typical day consisted of:
Intake Room: Between 8:00 am and 9:00 am, the group spent time divided up into gender specific rooms. Time spent in the intake rooms occurred after arrival to the building but before the first rap of the day began. Generally teens were packed into these small rooms where time was spent "owning wrongs" or setting goals for the day as they waited for other group members to arrive prior to starting raps.
Basics Rap: Closer to 9:00 am, group was moved from the intake rooms to the 'group room.' The group sang songs until basics rap began promptly at 9:00 am. There was no confrontation and no personal issues related during basics rap. Basics rap was an informational type of rap that concentrated on the interpretation and application of the tools for personal change. Basics rap lasted for 1 hour.
Morning Rap: The group sang songs between basics rap and morning rap. Morning rap by design was a simple, fast paced rap that set the pace for the day. Morning rap took place between 10:00 am and noon. As with most traditional structured rap sessions in KIDS, morning rap consisted of different segments of the rap relative to a central topic. Teens would discuss what they called "past incidents" about times that a teen's alleged drug use, eating, or behavioral related disorder affected and negatively impacted their life. During the next segment of the rap, group members would discuss "changes" made since being in the KIDS of El Paso program and how they are different from their past before being admitted. At the conclusion of the session, group members would set goals for the future. All raps ended with the group interlocking arms (placing their arm around the people seated next to them) while two staff members leading the rap session would "rap up" or conclude by summarizing the rap topic and lessons learned. Once staff was done, group shouted "love ya" and would name the staff members individually and then shout "love ya group." Group would then initiate motivation to select a song to sing prior to the start of the next rap.
Lunch: Lunch rap wasn't a structured rap and usually leisurely topics were discussed in full group. Lunch took place between 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm. Lunch was always a hot lunch and included a cup of water.
Guys/Girls Rap: After lunch the group divided into two individual gender specific groups that met in different rooms of the building. Guys and Girls rap was a structured rap took place between 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm. Guys and Girls Raps were designed to be more confrontational in nature. Most commonly guys and girls rap was a time when group discussed past incidents that were sexual in nature and not appropriate for discussion in full group. However, on many occasions, group members were forced to discuss sexually explicit incidents in full group as a lesson in humility. Guys/Girls Rap consisted of the same structure as morning rap including "past" "present" and "changes" parts of rap.
Exercise Rap: Exercise Rap took place immediately following Guys and Girls Rap when the group was still split up by gender. Exercise Rap was between 2:00 pm and 2:30 pm. Aside from motivation, this was literally the only exercise lower phase teens had while in the program. Most raps were always led by two staff members however Exercise Rap and Guys/Girls Rap was led by a single staff member.
Rules Rap: Following exercise rap, the guys side and girls side joined once again and resumed in full group. Group sang songs until Rules Rap started promptly at 2:30 pm. Rules Rap lasted for 30 minutes until 3:00 pm. Rules Rap was a review sort of rap that reiterated the many rules of the program. Teens would motivate and when called on, recite a KIDS rule. There was no confrontation and no personal issues related during rules rap. This rap would always start with staff asking the question "What's the first and most important rule?" Group would then motivate furiously to be called on to answer the question. "Honesty" was the first and most important rule.
Afternoon Rap: Afternoon Rap was most commonly referred to as "3-5 rap" in KIDS as it took place between 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm. Afternoon Rap was also a structured rap that included "past," "present," and "changes" parts of rap. This rap was the most confrontational rap of the day. Higher phasers that went to school were usually back in group and present during this rap. This was a time when higher phasers were "held accountable" or questioned about program deviations. There were often setbacks, confrontations, and restraints during 3-5 rap.
Dinner: Similar to lunch, dinner wasn't a structured rap and usually leisurely topics were discussed in full group. Dinner took place between 5:00 pm and 6:00 pm. Dinner usually consisted of a cold sandwich, a piece of fruit, a bag of chips and a cup of water.
Night Rap: Unlike other raps, night rap was not designed to be a confrontational type of rap. Generally speaking night rap was supposed to wind down the day before group was dismissed. Night rap also consisted of a past, present, and goals part of the rap. Night rap took place between 6:00pm and 8:00pm.
Lineup/Host Home Changes: Lineup took place just after night rap. Each evening there would usually be changes in the composition of host homes. Staff generally read what changes would be made to the group a short time following night rap. Changes in what oldcomers took home which newcomers occurred often and for a variety of reasons. After staff read what changes were taking place, oldcomers lined up on the sides of group respectively. Girls on one side and guys on the opposite side. During lineup newcomers were beltlooped in preparation for exiting the group room and boarding the car to drive to the host home. The group faced forward and lined up in a manner that the toes of one individual were in direct contact with the heel of the person in front of them. This was called being lined up "heel-toe." If anyone was not lined up properly, the sides of their shoes were often kicked into place by staff.
Dismissal: At the conclusion of the day, the group was dismissed from the group room and left the building for the day. All newcomers were beltlooped and staff closely supervised as teens exited the building to board the vehicles that would transport teens to their respective host homes. Newcomers always sat in the back seat and baby locks were utilized to prevent doors from opening from the inside. Window cranks were also removed so that windows could not be rolled down. Vehicle security was mandatory for the parent of any child on second phase or higher. Throughout the car ride to the hosthome, newcomers were required to keep their eyes inside the car at all times and were not permitted to look out the windows. Usually all phasers worked on composing their moral inventories during this time.
