Faith-Based Mentorship for Individuals Reentering Society
By Judy Dietlein, Western Region RVP
Has your Council or Conference ever thought about starting a reentry program? You may ask, what is reentry, and what does it mean? Reentry is the process of leaving jail or prison and returning to society. Each year more than 600,000 individuals are released from state and federal prisons. Another nine million cycle through local jails. Nationally, nearly 30% of those we serve have been directly impacted by incarceration. Reentry programs are designed to assist returning citizens with a successful transition to their community after they are released.
If this seems like a worthwhile project to undertake, consider working with one of the many SVdP existing programs operating throughout the nation. While many conferences and councils have some type of reentry or prison ministry programs, the St. Vincent de Paul St. Peter Claver Prison Ministry in Orlando, featured in this video, was one of National Council’s original Immersion/Reentry programs. These programs transform lives every day. This ministry has recently partnered with an organization called Promising People, which trains former inmates in the electric trade using virtual reality.
You may also connect with our Shared Interest Group in Reentry/Immersion, which embodies the very action of transformational change. Just as mentoring is a key component in an effective Reentry program, members of this shared interest group can offer mentoring to any SVdP Council or Conference that wants to begin a program in their community.
In the same way Conferences respond to the specific needs of their communities, so do Reentry programs focus on the needs in their local areas – perhaps the local jail or a nearby prison. Every program takes on key components and designs a program that fits the needs of their local returning citizens. Most are challenged first with the need for housing and jobs to create stability in their lives. Community and spiritual support are also offered along the way.
“Our mission and our guiding principles are those acts of mercy – feeding the hungry, clothing the naked…and visiting the people that are in prison,” said Carlos Benitez, Program Manager for St Peter Claver Prison Ministry. “We go into prison bringing spirituality, and compassion and kindness and goodness, to the folks who don’t get that in prison.”
You can learn more about our Reentry/Immersion program on our website. Members of the Shared Interest Group are happy to share their stories and best practices. Additionally, you can reach out to Steve Uram, National Director of Poverty Programs with the National Council.
SVdP Poverty Programs consist of the Homelessness Prevention Committee, the Poverty Action Committee, the Voice for the Poor and the following shared interest groups: Reentry, Workforce Development, and Getting Ahead.
