Human needs

Developing external relations for prisoner reentry programming

pingv — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 20:05:05 -0500

In order to maximize effectiveness, prisoner reentry programs need to develop mutually beneficial relationships with their local government and community, the criminal justice system, community and faith organizations, and employers. The following recommendations serve as a guide for bolstering the external relations of faith and community-based organizations, city agencies, and other entities engaged in prisoner reentry programming. These suggestions are adapted from the publication Call to Action, which includes a series of case studies of organizations participating in Ready4Work, Public/Private Ventures’ national prisoner reentry demonstration program, or other prisoner reentry issues.

Developing internal capacity for prisoner reentry programming

pingv — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 19:32:23 -0500

Prisoner reentry programs are complex endeavors that require a well-planned model and structure, adequate services, and highly-trained and professional staffing and leadership. The following recommendations serve as a guide for bolstering the internal capacities of faith and community-based organizations, city agencies, and other entities engaged in prisoner reentry programming. These suggestions are adapted from the publication Call to Action, which includes a series of case studies of organizations participating in Ready4Work, Public/Private Ventures' national prisoner reentry demonstration program, or other prisoner reentry issues.

Helping youth create change by developing leadership skills

pingv — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 12:35:39 -0500

In a downtown Chicago neighborhood plagued by violence, young people in the community decided they wanted to work towards change. In collaboration with the Chicago Area Project and their Teen REACH program, neighborhood Catholic elementary school students and staff (pre-K to 8th grade), and local baby boomer volunteers joined together to receive training—adopting a national curriculum that focuses on leadership opportunities for young people—to help them in addressing community needs. Within a year’s time there was a marked decline in violence and improved behaviors among the student population. This effective practice was submitted by the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory/LEARNS in December 2006.

Involving children of prisoners in a Martin Luther King, Jr., Day event

pingv — Wed, 27 Sep 2006 17:57:15 -0500

For AmeriCorps*VISTA members, Martin Luther King, Jr., Day offers a unique opportunity to fulfill the Corporation's goals of increasing volunteerism and satisfying member responsibilities of planning mentor/mentee activities. For children of incarcerated parents, this day of service can prove to offer a sense of accomplishment, while educating them about the life of this great leader.

Designing and implementing a mentoring program for children of prisoners

pingv — Wed, 27 Sep 2006 17:37:38 -0500

Children with incarcerated parents are especially vulnerable to at-risk behaviors and are in a position to receive enormous positive benefits from volunteering and being mentored. National and community service programs will find these recommendations on designing and implementing a program that mentors children of prisoners helpful. These suggestions have been adapted from the publication, Building from the Ground Up: Creating Effective Programs to Mentor Children of Prisoners, by W. Wilson Goode Sr., the director of Amachi, a national mentoring program for children of prisoners that began in September 2000.

Using hands-on project-based learning to build intergenerational relationships

pingv — Wed, 30 Aug 2006 18:31:51 -0500

Designing mentoring programs that include definite activities and outcomes may support the mentor-mentee relationship, as bonding may be facilitated through working together. This effective practice highlights RSVP volunteers who mentor students in woodworking techniques through the RSVP Juvenile Detention Center Program in Stevens Point, Wisconsin.

Expanding youth employment opportunities with an entrepreneurial endeavor

pingv — Wed, 30 Aug 2006 17:43:21 -0500

The Waldport High School (WHS) Kayak Shack is an exemplary youth development project, organized and operated by entrepreneurial students at WHS with support from an AmeriCorps*VISTA member. The project was conceived to address Waldport’s desire to increase employment opportunities for youth, stimulate eco-tourism in the area, and educate youth in small business development. This project demonstrates effective community economic development and capacity building by an AmeriCorps*VISTA member, successful community partnerships with a focus on supporting youth entrepreneurs and creative thinking about hands-on ways to link local resources with youth opportunities. Submitted by LEARNS in summer of 2006.

Working towards a bachelor's degree while incarcerated

pingv — Wed, 16 Aug 2006 19:12:58 -0500

Many of those serving time in prison possess a limited education and few pathways for educational opportunities. Programs that allow prisoners to achieve educational goals are difficult to fund and oftentimes equally difficult to maintain, due to the very nature of prison life. This effective practice, submitted by Azalea Aguilar of the National Crime Prevention Council in August 2006, highlights a program instituted by Boston University that allows inmates to study towards an undergraduate degree, thus increasing their chances of successful reintegration into society upon their release.

Reducing recidivism by employing former offenders as furniture crafters

pingv — Wed, 16 Aug 2006 18:31:14 -0500

Returning to employment can be difficult for ex-offenders for a variety of social, economic and psychological reasons. In the small town of Winslow, Maine, a carpentry shop provides permanent jobs, competitive wages, career guidance, and ownership opportunities for those formerly incarcerated. Azalea Aguilar, with the National Crime Prevention Council, submitted this effective practice in August, 2006.

Assessing the information needs of health care providers in rural areas

pingv — Wed, 05 Jul 2006 18:49:11 -0500

Health care providers in rural or tribal areas encounter a wide range of clients; therefore understanding issues relating to the population can prove difficult. Reliable assessment is critical so that the work that needs to be done is on target and focused. This effective practice, submitted by staff with the National Network of Libraries of Medicine in June 2006, shares strategies that have worked for this group as they serve the Native American population in the Four Corners Region.

Connecting incarcerated parents and their children through inmates' recorded readings of books

pingv — Mon, 08 May 2006 12:30:06 -0500

In collaboration with local judicial and law enforcement authorities and a nonprofit child-advocacy organization, RSVP of Allen County, Indiana supplies books and tape-recorders to inmates of a county correctional facility, who then create recordings of themselves reading that are distributed along with the books to their children. The program helps inmates who are parents maintain a meaningful presence in the lives of their children and can serve as an effective model and practical approach for national service programs seeking to promote youth development and family literacy within a difficult-to-reach subset of families in disadvantaged circumstances. Erich Stiefvater of LEARNS, submitted this effective practice in April 2006.

Supporting family and friends of homicide victims

pingv — Wed, 03 May 2006 11:12:26 -0500

According to the FBI's Uniform Crime Report, an estimated 16,204 murders were committed in the United States in 2002. Homicide survivors, a large and vulnerable population, need help grieving their losses. In Memphis, Tennessee, a faith-based organization provides emotional, spiritual, and practical support. Azalea Aguilar of the National Crime Prevention Council submitted this effective practice in March 2006.

Supporting female victims of crime and their families

pingv — Wed, 12 Apr 2006 14:30:36 -0500

Battered women and victims of rape and assault have suffered substantial harm, and their families and the communities in which they live are also impacted by these crimes. In Milwaukee, where police receive 1,200 domestic violence calls each month, Brothers Against Domestic Violence (BADV) serves women survivors. These African American men from local churches and mosques are committed to ensuring the safety of women and children by acting as their bodyguards. BADV volunteers escort women to all criminal justice-related activities as well as doctor appointments, shopping and social events. Azalea Aguilar of the National Crime Prevention Council submitted this effective practice in March 2006.

Providing older volunteers with adaptive products to enable them to continue to serve

pingv — Tue, 07 Mar 2006 17:44:19 -0600

For older volunteers who have physical limitations, volunteering can be restricted, oftentimes to within the confines of a residential or assisted living situation. And even those activities we may normally associate with elder or homebound volunteers, such as knitting or crafts, may prove problematic. This effective practice offers a list of specialized products that can help volunteers stay engaged and productive and was shared by Paula Sotnik, with the National Service Inclusion Project, on the NSSCTalk e-mail discussion list on March 2, 2006.

Linking prison and community-based services to reduce recidivism among young ex-offenders

pingv — Wed, 15 Feb 2006 12:46:15 -0600

It has been estimated that approximately 1,600 individuals are released from prisons daily, and nearly two-thirds of all released prisoners will be re-arrested within three years. Fostering an individual's transition from prison life to mainstream society can be challenging, especially when working with young offenders. However, recent study has shown that intervention that is supported through post-release supervision is most effective at reducing recidivism. A program in Boston, based on these principles, holds promise for success. Azalea Aguilar of the National Crime Prevention Council submitted this effective practice in February 2006.

Volunteering as a family: 20 tips

pingv — Tue, 17 Jan 2006 01:00:00 -0600

The value of helping others is modeled in a direct way when families volunteer together and everyone makes a contribution. This effective practice shares service-learning projects that are suitable for whole family participation. Reprinted with permission from an article by Cathryn Berger Kaye, M.A., written for Nick Jr. Family Magazine.

Offering alternative treats for Halloween

pingv — Thu, 13 Oct 2005 01:00:00 -0500

Community members can help make Halloween a more inclusive, and healthier, holiday for children with diabetes and other health concerns by adding non-sugar treats to their trick-or-treat offerings. This effective practice is shared by the Institute for Applied Biomedicine. Their website provides a downloadable poster and sample community letter to promote the Non-Sugar Treats program.

Helping youth use technology for social change

pingv — Mon, 26 Sep 2005 01:00:00 -0500

Technology access to youth in underserved areas has long been a concern for those seeking to bridge the digital divide. An organization in San Diego teaches "technoliteracy" so that youth can use media in ways that are meaningful to their lives. While youth express themselves by authoring online magazines and producing visual art for gallery exhibits, they are empowered and connected to global issues. This program was highlighted in the May 2005 issue of Youth Today.

Helping girls maintain healthy relationships with their incarcerated mothers

pingv — Tue, 20 Sep 2005 01:00:00 -0500

Losing a mother to incarceration has a profound effect in the life of a child. Oftentimes it is difficult for mothers and their children to maintain a relationship, due to emotional and physical limitations. A nationwide program that helps girls connect with their mothers has lasting benefits not only for the girls, but for the incarcerated adults as well. This effective practice highlights some of the ways that programs nurture the tenuous relationship that is the mother and daughter bond in situations of incarceration.

Supporting volunteerism in the workplace

pingv — Mon, 25 Jul 2005 01:00:00 -0500

In 2004, volunteer program award winners of the Points of Light Excellence in Workplace Volunteer Programs awards from the previous year and the 2003 winner of the George Bush Corporate Leadership Award came together for a Business Leadership Forum on Workplace Volunteering, hosted by the Points of Light Foundation. This effective practice shares the panelists' comments concerning their companies' innovative and successful approaches to building and growing winning workplace volunteer programs.

Compensating family members who care for elderly relatives in the home

pingv — Tue, 19 Jul 2005 01:00:00 -0500

Nationwide, more than 8 million family members are providing unpaid care for loved ones 50 and older living in their household, and many who are providing constant care say that it poses a financial hardship, according to a survey conducted in 2004 by AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving. As baby boomers face the challenge of caring for aging parents, receiving state funds for their efforts may be one way to ease the burden. In Massachusetts, the Caring Homes Program provides financial compensation, as well as training and support to these caregivers, allowing seniors to stay in their homes and communities.

Ensuring data security for local domestic violence programs and community service providers

pingv — Fri, 17 Jun 2005 01:00:00 -0500

When it comes to technology, victims of domestic violence have even greater security and safety concerns than the rest of the population. Any data collection initiative within a local domestic violence program or between several service providers must be carefully planned, implemented, and evaluated regularly because the lives of battered women depend on it. This effective practice shares a checklist, designed by the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV), which can be used as a starting point in discussing client safety and data security.

Using performance to give voice to children of prisoners

pingv — Tue, 24 May 2005 01:00:00 -0500

The loss of a parent to incarceration has a tremendous impact in the life of a child. For adolescents who are dealing with other difficult life issues, having a safe way to express their thoughts and feelings can make a tangible difference. At San Francisco's Balboa High School, students told their stories in the form of a play, and this literally meant the difference between dropping out and staying in school. This program was highlighted in an article by Heather Knight in the San Francisco Chronicle on April 23, 2005.

Improving neighborhoods with web-based community mapping

pingv — Mon, 28 Mar 2005 01:00:00 -0600

"Neighborhood improvement and recovery is not just for the experts!" That is the motto of Neighborhood Knowledge Los Angeles, a community outreach program of UCLA's Advanced Policy Institute. NKLA has demonstrated the value of involving community residents in the process of monitoring neighborhood conditions and mapping community assets.

Organizing a senior health and wellness fair

pingv — Tue, 23 Nov 2004 01:00:00 -0600

Organizing a collection of exhibits on health and wellness programs and services available for seniors contributes to the vigor and safety of the elderly population. This effective practice outlines the steps to take to develop and implement a health fair in your community and was submitted by Robert Jackson in February 2004, using best practices developed from the Wilder Foundation's Vital Neighborhoods Initiative.