The Work That We Do

Pre-Release Planning : Our Community Chaplain meets with inmates in order to discuss their needs and to help find community supports prior to their release. When possible, this planning should begin 6-12 months prior to release. A questionnaire is used that clearly demonstrates the unique needs each inmate will have when moving into the community.

Accompaniment to the Community: Whenever possible, the Community Chaplain picks up the inmate on release day and escorts him into the community. He takes him to his first Community Parole meeting, to check in at the police station, to Ontario Works and to his immediate place of residence. He is also available to help with renewal of health ID cards etc. as needed.

Individual Support and Counseling: The Chaplain is available to meet with individuals after their release into the community and will check in with them from time to time to see if they require any assistance. Typically she would take them for breakfast or coffee, but it may also be just a phone or email check-in. One-on-one counseling on a regular basis may also be arranged. Volunteers may be assigned to help them with various activities when possible.

Family Support Groups: We form a small group of people committed to helping the family deal together with issues of incarceration and release into the community.  This may include assistance with budgeting, children’s issues, housing, employment, education and socialization.

The Welcome Weekend & Friendship Meal Program: The “Welcome Weekend” is a series of events held on Saturday afternoons that provide emotional, spiritual and social support for those who have been recently released, their supporters and their families.  This is followed by a Friendship Meal that is free of charge.  Participants are encouraged to help in meal preparation.  We run after-school children’s programs one day a week that teach virtues such as honesty, truth, goodness, integrity and trust.  We use crafts and stories to teach various values and skills to help them cope with the temporary loss of an incarcerated parent.  A nutritious meal is an integral part of this program.  

Women and Children’s Programs: We work with women who have a loved-one who is, or has been incarcerated.  We listen to the unique needs that each woman has and give her the tools that will empower her and give her the strength and wisdom she needs to succeed.

We are grateful to The Ontario Trillium Foundation for funding the Women’s and Children’s programs.