1.By providing hope and encouragement. By building a trusting relationship.
2.By preparing the inmate while they are still in prison for the free world.
3.By working with churches, chaplains, aftercare facilities and local businesses in order to develop a plan for the inmates successful move into the free world.
Mentors have done such a great job in preparing inmates for the free world and now a new opportunity has opened up for aftercare!
The Faith-Based Community has now been asked by TDCJ to hold ReEntry programs in the prison system.
The first one is now going on at the Kegans State Jail in downtown Houston. This is a collaboration of many different ministries working together to bring to the inmates the education and life skills they need to be successful when they leave the jail. It is all centered on Jesus, but has aspects such as values training, substance abuse and financial planning as well.
One of our most immediate needs is for Coaches/Mentors. We have men who will be leaving as soon as February 16th !
We are looking for men to coach male inmates 2 times a month or more. Because of the nature of the program, we have almost unlimited access to the men at any time of day, so there is a lot of freedom to choose when to visit. We need people who can commit to maintaining contact with the inmate for at least a year after he leaves prison, perhaps even picking him up when he's released and taking him to his (hopefully) new residence.
We will be opening a new 58 bed Dorm at the women's Unit at Plane State in March and will need women Mentor/Coaches for there, also.
Please prayerfully consider what your involvement in this new endeavor should be. I hope God tells you to be a Coach!
Blessings,
Marleah Baird
Faith Based ReEntry Initiative
Coordinator
mdbaird@houston.rr.com
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