Jennifer (not her real name), 45, was released from an eight-year prison sentence for drug-related charges and theft last month. Once married but now divorced, Jennifer is the mother of two adult children, both of whom live out of state and tend to ignore her because of her conviction. Jennifer has a college degree and once was a bank clerk. But now, as a felon, she’s having a difficult time finding a job in Yavapai County, especially in her home area of Dewey.
She doesn’t have a driver’s license or a car anymore. A longtime personal friend lets her stay in a small spare bedroom and takes Jennifer shopping for limited groceries and personal items –whenever she makes a few dollars from cleaning houses or whatever other part-time job she can find.
Jennifer’s once brunette hair is streaked with grey. She says it needs a perm, which she can’t afford. Her limited wardrobe – mainly jeans, sweaters, t-shirts and inexpensive blouses – makes her feel self-conscious when she applies for a job.
What’s really tough for her is finding transportation to see her parole officer every week. Public transportation is not available where she lives. She has to rely on her friend to take her.
Jennifer is “clean” now – and wants to stay that way. She wants a job. She wants a home. She wants to be independent. She is still adjusting to rapidly changing technology such as cell phones, computers and laptops and social media, which she couldn’t keep up with while in prison.
It’s easy for Jennifer to get depressed.
A Place to Start
Fortunately for Jennifer, her parole officer told her about the Yavapai Reentry Project. Its sole purpose is to provide a regional support system to promote successful reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals back into the community. Officials say doing so reduces criminal behavior and encourages positive links to finding housing, jobs, medical and health information and other basic needs.
In its eighth year, the Reentry Project was founded by Yavapai County Attorney Sheila Polk and her colleagues in MATFORCE (the acronym for Meth, Amphetamine Task Force). Now, a unique, separately funded program within MATFORCE, the Reentry Project is lauded throughout Arizona by law enforcement personnel, judges and attorneys, Arizona Department of Corrections officials and others who are committed to reducing crime and providing help for people released from prison. They consider it a model program to be emulated.
In late November, when Polk told a statewide crowd about the Yavapai Reentry Project during the Arizona Town Hall in Phoenix, she received a standing ovation.
Services Provided
Merilee Fowler, executive director of MATFORCE, supervises administration of the Reentry Project. She is aided by two women. Both are now part-time employees. They are Amy Marshall, program assistant; and Brenda Buenrostro, program coordinator. Both speak candidly of difficulties formerly incarcerated people face when they leave prison.
Buenrostro said, “Former prisoners are real people with real problems. We need to provide them with tools to help them identify, solve and meet their goals once they are on their own.”
Community Coaches Making a Difference
“A really critical service we can provide is introducing them to community coaches,” said Marshall. “These are people who are volunteers, screened and trained to help provide personal support and help.”
Coaches must be from Yavapai County and willing to commit to receiving free training to teach them to work one-on-one with those who have been incarcerated.
“We’re looking for people who can give former prisoners emotional and personal support, without being judgmental,” said Fowler. “Men are matched with men, women with women. What is most important is your belief that you can help someone build a hope for their future.”
According to a study, people who leave prison and work with a community coach in the Reentry Program are 40 percent less likely to return to prison.
Those enrolled in the Reentry Program receive a gift bag with personal hygiene items, a $20 gift card, a certificate for a haircut and some clothing. They also are offered links to education, substance abuse counseling, faith communities and financial aid.
“Amy and Brenda are the true force for Yavapai Reentry,” said Yavapai County Attorney Polk. “We are so lucky to have them.”
Fowler said since founding of the Reentry Project, more than 200 individuals have participated. “We usually average about 30 people a year, but this year, we’ll greatly exceed that number. In the past year, we had 106 applicants. In February 2018, we expanded the project to serve individuals being released from the Yavapai County Jail.”
Fowler said the ratio of men to women is a fairly constant even split.
The budget for Yavapai Reentry was $57,000 this past year, a substantial increase from 2012, when the budget was $26,000. Most of the funding comes from the Margaret T. Morris Foundation and the Health Choice Integrated Care Community Reinvestment Funds.
“YRP is absolutely a community-driven model that can be duplicated throughout the state,” said Fowler. “It is a grassroots program that is successful because of volunteers who want to make a positive difference in the lives of individuals like Jennifer who need added support.” QCBN
By Ray Newton, QCBN
For more information about the Yavapai Reentry Program, contact Brenda Buenrostro at bbuenrostro@matforceaz.org or call 920-708-0100.
Photo Captions:
#1Amy Marshall and Brenda Buenrostro, Reentry Program staff members, say they are passionate about helping ex-prisoners adjust to a new life.
Photo by Ray Newton
#2 Merilee Fowler, executive director-MATFORCE, oversees the Yavapai Reentry Project.
Courtesy photo
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