- Description
- Updates
- FAQ
- Comments
- Backers
Persons returning to the community face significant barriers rebuilding their lives after experiencing contact with the criminal justice system (Coates, 2015). Examples include those citizens on probation or parole or those returning to the community after a period of incarceration in jail or prison. These challenges are being magnified by the COVID-19 epidemic.
Currently in Eau Claire County, WI, we do not have a comprehensive reentry program that can serve those being released from jail or prison, so even a brief jail stay could result in the loss of housing, employment, family disruption, health care coverage, or transportation. Recent estimates suggest that each year 15-20 women return to the Eau Claire area after release from prison. In 2017, the Eau Claire County Jail released 4,916 people. Roundtable Revival has a goal of providing resources and programming to support reintegration into the community and reduce recidivism.
We will ultimately offer a variety of reentry programs, including the Mentoring Program, Reentry Peer Support, a First Stop program for people being released from jail, and an alcohol-free tavern as a place where people can gather in the evening to socialize, relax, and have fun. Roundtable Revival utilizes a foundation of Certified Peer Support Specialists. Training for the Peer Support Specialist is provided by the State of Wisconsin and their hours are billable through Medical Assistance. These specialists have the advantage of having personal experience with the criminal justice system and have been trained in understanding the available community resources. Ultimately, we hope that any added programs will contribute to the goal of empowering returning citizens and enhancing their overall physical and mental health. We want to offer them the opportunity for an equal place at our roundtable.
Objectives: For the Mentoring Program, we plan to draw upon the power of a mentoring relationship to empower persons as they seek to negotiate the challenges of obtaining housing, employment, substance use and alcohol misuse treatment, healthcare, mental health treatment, and other needed resources. Funds raised will be used for start-up and initial operational expenses. The outcomes will consist of a tracking success across the areas of individual need and an evaluation of the mentoring program by the mentors and mentees.
Mentoring Program Design: The program will be modeled after similar successful programs, best practices, and evidence-based models. Area churches and congregations, the Synagogue and the Mosque as well as the general community will be approached for support by providing weekly meals, Life Skills presenters, and Mentors. The program will meet weekly at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Eau Claire for three hours with each session consisting of socializing and sharing a meal, group support and life story sharing, an educational presentation on life skills, and individual mentoring. Mentors will be trained prior to each cycle and will be asked to attend group mentor meetings periodically during the cycle. The initial focus will be providing a safe space for adult females who volunteer and are accepted into the program. If there is enough interest, a second site will serve adult men. We envision conducting mentoring program cycles in the fall and spring. A graduation ceremony will be held at the conclusion of each cycle.
All mentors will be asked to complete an initial six-hour workshop training. Group meetings of Mentors will occur prior to the weekly meetings every third week of the program duration. Mentors will be given a manual with a mentor job description and training materials.
Expected outcomes: Our mission is: To cultivate inclusive, accepting, and empowering spaces WITH people who face barriers due to a conviction history: Facilitating full reintegration into our community. We plan to link individuals with community resources for housing, employment, substance use and alcohol misuse treatment, mental health treatment, and other needed resources. An overall goal of Roundtable Revival is to foster a more responsive and collaborative system for the employment, housing, mental health, healthcare, and substance use and alcohol misuse treatment needs of returning citizens. In addition, we will instill a sense of community and belonging among individuals who are returning citizens.
How the project will be sustained: The Eau Claire County Department of Human Services operates two programs that will be a source of collaboration and support, The Comprehensive Community Services (CCS) and Community Support Program (CSP). We have also established a beginning relationship with the Eau Claire County Jail, the State of Wisconsin, Department of Corrections, Probation and Parole and The Transition Center (day treatment center) in Eau Claire. Roundtable Revival is incorporated as a State of Wisconsin, certified nonprofit social service agency or 501(c)3.
Updates
Project FAQ
The Challenge and the Hope: Navigating Life After Incarceration
UUCEC Sunday Presentation by Sarah Ferber on January 5, 2020
People who have been incarcerated face severe challenges when they attempt to reentry society, including legal discrimination in the areas of housing, employment, and voting rights. Two years ago a small group of people came together and created a nonprofit organization to address reentry challenges called Roundtable Revival.
Currently the membership of the board of directors of Roundtable Revival includes a retired Social Work Professor and long-time member of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Eau Claire (UUCEC). He is also on the Eau Claire County Board and has advocated for more alternatives to incarceration at the county level. Two other members are engaged in the Ex-incarcerated People Organizing (EXPO) which is a statewide organization with this mission: EXPO “works to end mass incarceration, eliminate all forms of structural discrimination against formerly incarcerated people, and restore formerly incarcerated people to full participation in the life of communities.” One of these is the statewide Associate Director of EXPO and she presented a Sunday Service to the UUCEC, this past January on the topic of "The Challenge and the Hope: Navigating Life after Incarceration." Another member is in recovery and is also a member of the UUCEC. One of the members is a former educational employee of a state prison and is now the Director of the Inn Towne, a hotel that “provides safe, sober, affordable housing with Certified Peer Specialists for men integrating into the community after incarceration.”
The work of this group aligns with several UU Principles, most notably:
- The inherent worth and dignity of every person.
We seek to treat everyone with respect and invite everyone to a place at our roundtable. Some of the best ideas for programs have come from people with lived experience, such as a dry bar for late evening socializing without the presence of alcohol or other drugs.
- Justice, equity and compassion in human relations.
We are trying to foster an environment that supports growth and development and gives everyone an opportunity to become a productive and responsible community member.
This project is sponsored by the Social Responsibility Committee of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Eau Claire and has also been approved by a unanimous vote of the Board of Directors of this congregation. The mentoring program will be held in the social hall of the building for 13 weeks on Sunday evenings in the fall and spring from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Volunteer mentors and meal preparer/server teams will be recruited from the congregation.
This project has been presented and will be advanced as a social justice project to Joining Our Neighbors, Advancing Hope (JONAH) a local, faith-based social justice organization for funding, additional mentors, and meal preparation and service teams. Once established, we also plan to approach the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Social Work Program and Field Internship Unit for possible student volunteers and field placement sites. Finally, Grace Lutheran Church has already contributed a location for the First Stop site.
We would encourage all UUCEC members, JONAH members, and other individuals and organizations to donate financially if you are able and to share this Faithify campaign with your social networks.
2 thoughts on “Roundtable Revival Mentoring Program for Persons Who are Reentering the Community ”
Leave a Reply to Linda Morrison Cancel reply
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05/26/2020$25.00
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05/22/2020$250.00
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05/18/2020UUPMI is working on similar programs. I am in Evanston IL. Keep us up to date on your successes and challenges.$45.00
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05/18/2020$50.00
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05/13/2020Such important work!$50.00
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05/12/2020$25.00
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04/16/2020$15.00
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04/13/2020$15.00
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Anonymous04/10/2020With many people being released from jail or prison reentry programs and resources are a pressing need in our communities$100.00
Linda Morrison
I wish/want the write up to include
where the program is located!
Halcyon@Faithify
Hi Linda – this program is in Eau Claire County, WI. I will add the state to the description.