The Pinal Community Reentry Project focuses on a key population in the community whose needs are not being met, those exiting from jail and prison. Our goal is to help reduce recidivism, improve lives, and promote a safer community for all members of Pinal County.
THE REALITY FACEd by our community and HOW WE FIGHT BACK!
At any one time, nearly 6.9 million people are on probation, in jail, in prison, or on parole in the United States. Each year, more than 600,000 individuals are released from state and federal prisons. Another 9 million cycle through local jails. More than two-thirds of prisoners are rearrested within 3 years of their release and half are reincarcerated. When reentry fails, the costs are high — more crime, more victims, and more pressure on already-strained state and municipal budgets. There is also more family distress and community instability. Roughly 1 in 28 children currently have a parent behind bars. Mass incarceration has been a major driver of poverty.
To combat this, Casa Grande Alliance has started the Pinal Community Reentry Project to help those individuals returning to our community get the help they need to get back on their feet and become members of our community. Part of the reentry project is a program called Community Coaches. Our Community Coach Program is a volunteer-based program that matches a trained, community volunteer mentor with a prison reentry candidate. The Community Coach assists with social service navigation, goal setting and attainment, providing emotional support, and building a safe stable relationship. The program lasts for 6 months during which, the volunteer coach meets regularly with their mentee to assist with successful reintegration into our community.
pinal community REENTRY PROGRAM SERVICES
Community Coach & Volunteers
Community Coach & Volunteers
Community Coach & Volunteers
Our community coaches and volunteers are individuals from the local community who have a heart for service and want to give back to the local community. These individuals attend a training that covers topics such as ethics, empathy, structure and communication. They receive access to, and help evolve, a growing list of local services and resources to assist program participants with locale-specific solutions.
The expectation is 2-3 hours per week and as needed communication between their paired participants. Documentation of participants’ goals and tracking, to assess focus on service options and overall growth of participants. It is truly a rewarding feeling to watch others gain normalcy and feelings of accomplishment.
Think you have what it takes to become a Community Coach and help some of the most vulnerable in society? Do you want to smash the STIGMATIC view that is so harmful to this population? Do you want to give your experience, strength, hope or knowledge to those that can benefit from support?
Community Coach Program
Community Coach & Volunteers
Community Coach & Volunteers
Our Community Coach Program is the backbone of PCRP; this is a volunteer-based program where the participant is matched with a volunteer in the community who has been trained to provide referrals, emotional support, assistance with goal completion and resources.
The Community Coach program lasts for 6 months during which participants meet regularly with their coaches for supportive conversation to develop and realize reintegration. Including assistance in navigating through the barriers they face by providing guidance and community resources.
This program is 100% volunteer based. We are always looking for candidates to join our program as Community Coaches.
Independent Referral Program
Community Coach & Volunteers
Independent Referral Program
Participants looking just for referrals and resources will be able to obtain information through the Independent Referral Program. Staff directly connect participants with community resources and check in via phone or email to encourage and support participants.
This includes:
· Resources to find housing
· Links to employment and job skill training opportunities
· Medical and health information
· Access to veteran’s services (if applicable)
· Links to education
· Links to substance abuse and mental health counseling
· Connection to religious communities
There are many benefits to providing hope and support to formerly incarcerated individuals.
- Safer communities
- Increased hope through positive relationships
- Increased employment
- Increased family support and cohesiveness
- Decreased homelessness
- Decreased family violence
- Decreased crime