TASC, Inc. Women Forward Reentry Initiative (WFRI)

TASC, Inc. (Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities) will deliver the collaborative Women Forward Reentry Initiative (WFRI) to provide gender-specific and responsive pre/post-release services for 640 women throughout the transition from incarceration to their communities. Strong partnerships between TASC, the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC), community corrections (Parole District 4 and 5), Loyola University Chicago, local services providers and other community stakeholders will be utilized.

WFRI focuses on the complex behavioral health and social risks and needs of women leaving the Decatur Correctional Center (DCC). The WFRI will serve adult women returning to communities in Metro-East and Southern Illinois (representative of rural and non-rural areas). TASC's specialized case management model (SCM) assists women in achieving a successful reentry process, reaching their personal best, and learning to thrive and provide for themselves, their families, and communities at large.
The primary goals of the WFRI are to provide enhanced support that reduces recidivism by ensuring women have access to community resources that strengthen their reentry goals; and to build bridges between pre-and post-incarceration processes by providing education, motivation, belief, community linkages and wrap around reentry supports for all program participants. These goals are designed to meet two core process objectives over a 3-year period: 1) Reduce recidivism by increasing the gender responsive support system for women reentering their communities and 2) provide women with tools and resources to make informed decisions that align with their service plan re-entry goals, and assist in overcoming barriers to successful reentry.
TASC will work with key stakeholders to deliver the WFRI and meet established outcomes, including: A first-year planning phase; Developing a formal action plan; Collaboration with community corrections partners; Gender specific service models; Partnership with an established independent evaluator (BJA Priority 2) and work in collaboration with providers and other stakeholders that reinforce and support the needs of the reentry population. This comprehensive program will create a number of system and individual benefits that include; gender specific/responsive service model; new pre/post release case managers will be recruited, trained and hired; a collaboration with local partners and stakeholders who will work to identify evidenced based programs, community resources; increase engagement in behavioral and primary health services, housing and parenting/family reunification services; and enhanced service plans that include achievable goals and expectations to ensure a successful reentry transition.