ODRC Healthy Environments-Loving Parents (HELP)

The Second Chance Act of 2007 (Pub. L. 110-199) provides a comprehensive response to the increasing number of people who are released from prison and jail into communities and the subsequent challenges communities face as offenders attempt to reintegrate into society. The Second Chance Act Prisoner Reentry Initiative provides funding to state and local governments and federally recognized Indian tribes for demonstration projects to promote the safe and successful reintegration into the community of individuals who have been incarcerated. Funded demonstration projects will use validated and dynamic assessment tools to determine the risks and needs of offenders. Projects will provide offenders in prisons or jails with all necessary services to facilitate reentry into the community. In addition, the projects will develop procedures to ensure that dangerous felons are not released from prison prematurely and provide services that address treatment needs and protect communities against dangerous offenders. Allowable uses of funds to enhance a successful transition include: pre-release assessment and case planning, mentoring, housing, education, substance abuse treatment, mental health treatment, services to enhance family reunification, job training and readiness, and post-release case management and supervision.

The State of Ohio will use the grant funds to support the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (DRC). The DRC intends to implement the Healthy Environments-Loving Parents (HELP) program. The HELP program is designed to effectively address the issues of female offenders reentering the community. The target population for this project will be a minimum of 15 female offenders who are either currently incarcerated within the Ohio Reformatory for Women (ORW) Facility with their infant, or are pregnant and confined at the Franklin Pre-Release Center (FPRC). The goal of the HELP program will be to develop lasting relationships between the children and their incarcerated parents through ongoing capacity development. This development process is designed to prevent offenders from engaging in future criminal behavior while promoting the reduction of parental recidivism. This will be an important opportunity for the parental offender to rebuild relationships and supports that she had previously weakened, while also giving her a chance to re-establish herself as an asset.

CA/NCF