Re-entry and Recovery

The Central Council of Tlingit and Haida tribes of Alaska is a federally recognized tribal government. With this funding Tlingit & Haida will implement a project that aims to reduce recidivism and preventing new entries into homelessness by enhancing services within their three non-congregate reentry and recovery shelters located in Juneau, Alaska. Southeast Alaska (Juneau based) is the identified service area; however, tribal citizens being released from jails/prisons from other communities and states across the nation will also be served based in Juneau, Alaska. This program accepts participants who are formerly incarcerated or seeking sober safe living as residents in one of two male facilities for up to 27 men and one female facility housing up to nine women. Program participants come from various referral sources including jails/prisons/correctional centers, residential treatment centers, mental health providers, self-referrals and families seeking support for loved ones.   The project will refine structured programming and culturally responsive therapeutic groups taking a holistic approach focused on addiction, mental health, and trauma; recovery maintenance, psycho-education around substance use prevention; peer support and intensive case management services increasing access to services; cultural activities; staff training around evidenced based treatment and trauma informed care; establishing a structured volunteer program to promote community give-back; and hosting a strategic planning process to help develop a product or service that creates jobs and generates revenue for program sustainability. 

Activities will include group therapy options using traditional values to address topics such as anger management, domestic violence, sex/substance use addiction, trauma (present, historical and intergenerational), issues with self-worth, shame and guilt, and any other areas known to prevent healing and personal growth; establishing committed partnerships with cultural bearers to facilitate culturally responsive activities; training for staff around topics relevant to the population including trauma informed care, motivational interviewing, dialectical behavioral therapy, internal family systems treatment and cognitive behavioral therapy; establishing a structured volunteer database of community partnerships to ensure participants experience servitude and community give-back as part of their healing process; and hosting a strategic planning session with a subject matter experts in business planning to explore options that may generate job opportunities, generate revenue, and assist with program sustainability.