Re-Thinking Reentry Conference Registration

Confronting the Challenges and Opportunities of Women and Youthful Offenders

 

On Monday May 19, 2009 ORCA  held the 2nd Annual NWI Conference on Prisoner Reentry at the Genesis Convention Center in downtown Gary, Indiana. 

 

This years conference theme: Re-Thinking Reentry – Confronting the Challenges and Opportunities of Women and Youthful Offenders.

The conference is an effort to enccourage legislators, service providers, court systems, and community members to ‘re-think’ prisoner reentry. 

 

The barriers, placed on housing, food stamps and employment robs individuals of full citizenship and hampers successful reintegration into society.      

 

Identifying barriers to successful reentry increases public safety, reduces the rate of recidivism and reduces tax-payer liability for corrections.     

 

 

 

 

 

State representative Linda Lawson and State Senator Lonnie Randolph sat on our Legislative panel took questions from the audience.

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Children of Addicted Parents

Children of addicted parents are the highest risk group of children to become alcohol and drug abusers due to both genetic and family environment factors.   The influence of parental attitudes on a child’s drug taking behaviors may be as important as actual drug abuse by the parents.  An adolescent who perceives that a parent is permissive about the use of drugs is more likely to use drugs this according to National Association for Children of Alcoholics.

To that end ORCA has established a therapeutic group for children of addicted parents.  The group combines fun activities, such as cooking, and playing board games with educating children about the dangers of alcohol and substance use and abuse.   We are using a curriculum from the Indiana Prevention and Resouce Center for Children of Addicted parents.  The curriculum is age appropriate beginning with grades 1 through High School.

For more information about the group please contact ORCA at 219-714-7921 or toll free 1-877-213-7931.

2nd Annual Northwest Indiana Conference on Prisoner Reentry

Maxine Bryant

On Monday May 18, 2009 ORCA will sponsor the 2nd Annual NWI Conference on Prisoner Reentry: Re-Thinking Reentry – Confronting the Challenges and Opportunities of Women and Youthful Offenders. 

 

 Our Plenary speaker and Mistress of Ceremonies is the dynamic and motivational Maxine Bryant.   

 Shelia Raye Charles, daughter of pianist and soul singer, the late Ray Charles will be our luncheon speaker.  Sheila Ray loves all types of music but especially rock and roll.  But her path was not always easy.  

Conference Panel(ists)

• David Burch, Director of Reentry for the IDOC
•  Bill Glick, Director of Juvenile Justice Task Force
•  Terri McDermott, Director of Women’s Justice Services, Cook County, Il.
• Wm Bill Dwyer, Campagna Academy
•  Linda Lawson, State Representative 1st District, Hammond,
•  Michael Ayers, Hoosier Challenge Academy
• Sharla Williams, Employment Services, Tradewinds, Gary, In.

Indiana Access to Recovery

ORCA is a certified Recovery Consultant and Service Provider, in Lake County, for the Indiana Access to Recovery Program (ATR).

Indiana ATR funds are available for adults at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, residing in Allen, Elkhart, Lake, Marion, St. Joseph, Vanderburgh, and Vigo counties.  The program is designed eliminate barriers to treatment and recovery services for adults dealing with substance abuse and addiction issues.  The three target populations are: adults transitioning into the community after incarceration, women who are pregnant or who have dependent children and adults with a history of Methamphetamine use. 

 Each client enrolled in ATR will work with a Recovery Consultant who will help them assess their recovery needs and guide them in the development of their Individualized Recovery Plan.  The Recovery Consultant will authorize vouchers allowing the client to access ATR funded services and will also help the client to connect with any non-ATR services they may require.  ATR providers will be both secular and faith-based, giving the client the option of selecting the provider they are most comfortable with.   When a client accesses services at an ATR provider organization, that organization will then be reimbursed by the state.  Adults enrolled in ATR must be residents of one of the seven designated counties. However, ATR clients may access services at any certified ATR Provider, which could be located in a non-ATR county.

ORCA Participates in Independence Day Events

ORCA, the Offender Reentry and Community Assistance program helping recently released ex-offenders solve the reentry puzzle, participated in the Gary, Indiana 4th of July parade by decorating a float and passing out valuable information to onlookers.

The large truck, decorated with puzzle pieces symbolized the the goal of ORCA’s programs – to strengthen the entire reentry process so that ex-offenders may reintegrate as a pro-social and contributing members of their communities.