Staying Free
Empowering Men to Successfully Transition from Incarceration to Community
Vision
Staying Free envisions the reduction of recidivism through planning, training, practical assistance, and mentoring of male offenders prior to and after leaving prison.
Mission
Staying Free assists male offenders that will transition from prison to the community and who have no local family or support. The program is integrity-based and provides comprehensive, practical support designed to assure a healthy, successful reintegration into society.
Methodology
Staying Free has two parts, prior to release and after release.
Prior to release, Staying Free meets with inmates on a regular basis to mentor them in transitioning from prison to community. Facilitators will be volunteers and ex-offenders approved by the institution. Staying Free will use its own workbook as the primary vehicle for discussion.
Post release, Staying Free continues the mentorship established prior to release with weekly support group meetings using its workbook as a structured guide. The workbook promotes necessary life skills such as goal-setting, financial planning, social skills and self awareness. It is accompanied by a 12-week leader-led support group.
The program also assists participants by providing basic necessities (one month rent, household items, transportation, etc.) when funding has been secured. At this time Staying Free is limited to male offenders being released to south Puget Sound.
Staying Free Workbook contains some of the elements listed below
· Prior to Release
o Finding a personal identity
§ Physically
§ Mentally
§ Spiritually
o Identifying and/or developing a support system
o Integrity & values
o Communication (Expressing thoughts & feelings)
o Boundaries
o Co-dependency
o Short-term & long-term goals
o Balance
§ Time
§ Money
§ Energy
o Health (Medications, follow-up on health issues)
o Document acquisition
o Community Corrections
o Employment, education or what?
o Reconnecting with family and former friends
o Identifying community resources
o Planning for first day, week and month
· After Release (12 Leader Led Modules)
o Health (Medical, dental, medications, personal hygiene, etc.)
o Addiction & Recovery
o Stress/Anxiety/Fear/Depression
o Budgeting, banking & financial planning
o Nutrition (Meal planning, special diets, grocery shopping)
o Relationships
o Faith (Developing a life of meaning.)
o Boundaries
o Goal Setting (Developing a personal “mission statement”)
o Leaving Prison Behind (Exploring cultures)
o Social Skills
o Safety/Emergency Preparedness