Inside Out Reentry Inc

INSIDE OUT REENTRY ("IO") IS JOHNSON COUNTY'S ONLY COMPREHENSIVE REENTRY COMMUNITY, AND ONE OF THE FEW COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY-BASED REENTRY PROGRAMS IN IOWA. TO FULFILL OUR MISSION, IO ASSISTS PEOPLE WITH HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, HEALTHCARE (ESPECIALLY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH) TRANSPORTATION, EDUCATION, AND BASIC LIFE SKILLS, BOTH DIRECTLY AND BY REFERRAL. WE PROVIDE A SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY TO PROMOTE PRO-SOCIAL LIVING, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND PERSONAL AWARENESS THROUGH MENTORING, WEEKLY MEETINGS WITH LIFE SKILLS CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS, VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES, AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES. IN ADDITION, CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM AND EDUCATION FOR THE WIDER COMMUNITY ON THE STRUGGLES AND CHALLENGES OF RETURNING CITIZENS HAVE BEEN KEY COMPONENTS OF IO'S WORK SINCE ITS INCEPTION. WE PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING CORE SERVICES TO CITIZENS RETURNING FROM INCARCERATION, OR WITH SIGNIFICANT CRIMINAL LEGAL INVOLVEMENT, AND THEIR FAMILIES: INDIVIDUALIZED REENTRY PLANNING EMPLOYMENT - ASSISTANCE WITH JOB SEARCHES, APPLICATIONS, RESUMES, INTERVIEWING SKILLS, COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL JOBS PROGRAMS. HOUSING - ASSISTANCE WITH HOUSING SEARCHES, APPLICATIONS, CREDIT CHECKS, REFERRALS TO HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS; FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WITH INITIAL RENT AND DEPOSIT WITH JOHNSON COUNTY HOUSING TRUST FUNDING MENTORING - ONE-TO-ONE TUTORING - HISET (GED) PREPARATIONS LIFE SKILLS - FINANCIAL LITERACY, COMPUTER LITERACY, HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, COMMUNICATION COMMUNITY MEETINGS - WEEKLY SUPPORT GROUP, TOPICS INCLUDE GOAL SETTING, DEALING WITH ADVERSITY, MINDFULNESS, HEALTHY LIVING, AND MORE ADDITIONAL GROUP PROGRAMMING - PEER RECOVERY GROUP, SEASONAL WRITERS WORKSHOP IDENTIFICATION, MEDICAID, HEALTH INSURANCE - ASSISTANCE WITH APPLICATIONS AND REFERRALS REFERRALS AND SUPPORT - MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE USE, AND HEALTHCARE (INCLUDING ACCOMPANIMENT TO APPOINTMENTS AS NEEDED) IN FY22, IO SERVED OVER 198 PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY. THERE WERE 523 TOTAL VISITS TO OUR RESOURCE CENTER FROM 142 DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS SEEKING ASSISTANCE. IN ADDITION TO THE PEOPLE SERVED IN THE COMMUNITY, WE COMMUNICATED VIA CORRLINKS (PRISON EMAIL SYSTEM) AND LETTERS TO 163 INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE INCARCERATED TO ASSIST WITH REENTRY PLANNING, RECEIVING MORE THAN TOTAL 1995 MESSAGES. WEEKLY COMMUNITY MEETINGS: 109 DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS ATTENDED WEEKLY HOPE HOUSE GROUPS: 70 DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS ATTENDED WEEKLY COFFEE AND CONNECTIONS: 27 PEOPLE ATTENDED PEER RECOVERY MEETINGS WRITERS WORKSHOP: 5 PEOPLE ATTENDED 38 INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED INFORMATION ON FINANCIAL LITERACY 50% OF INDIVIDUALS REPORTED BEING ABLE TO INCREASE INCOME 73% OF INDIVIDUALS REPORTED STABLE EMPLOYMENT IO CONTINUES TO ENGAGE IN A CONCENTRATED OUTREACH TO THOSE WHO HAVE LIMITED ACCESS TO RESOURCES TO MAKE SURE THEY KNOW OF EMERGENCY FUNDING OPTIONS, PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT RESOURCES, CHECK ON THEIR MENTAL HEALTH, AND STAY CONNECTED. IO MAINTAINS EXCELLENT INDIVIDUAL CONTACT WITH OUR PARTICIPANTS, OFTEN RELYING ON TEXTS, PHONE CALLS, AND EMAILS TO COMMUNICATE. IN FY22, INSIDE OUT EXCHANGED 1899 CALLS, EMAILS, AND TEXTS WITH 264 INDIVIDUALS. IO ASSISTS INDIVIDUALS WITH CREATING RESUMES, APPLYING FOR EMPLOYMENT, AND SEEKING WORKFORCE TRAINING. WITH IO SUPPORT, MANY PARTICIPANTS FOUND AND MAINTAINED EMPLOYMENT. SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS WE ASSISTED FOUND JOBS AFTER BEING UNEMPLOYED, AND A COUPLE OF OTHERS RECEIVED PROMOTIONS AT THEIR JOBS. IN ADDITION TO WORKING WITH INDIVIDUALS IN OUR RESOURCE CENTER AND AT WEEKLY COMMUNITY MEETINGS, IO CONTINUES OUTREACH WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE CURRENTLY INCARCERATED OR UNDER SUPERVISION. WE BELIEVE THIS PREPARATION HAS A MAJOR IMPACT ON THEIR SUCCESS UPON RELEASE. IN MARCH 2020, THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS SUSPENDED VISITATIONS. IN RESPONSE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO VISIT THE CORRECTIONAL AND RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES, WE'VE INCREASED OUR OUTREACH VIA EMAIL AND MAIL TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING INDIVIDUALS IN PREPARING FOR THEIR RELEASE. IO OFFERS OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR MEMBERS TO SOCIALIZE POSITIVELY IN THE COMMUNITY AND LEARN ABOUT NEW ACTIVITIES AND RESOURCES. IO HOSTED A FALL DINNER, QUARTERLY GAME NIGHTS AND ATTENDED A FISH FRY WHERE MEMBERS COULD ENJOY A MEAL WITH ONE ANOTHER. IO HELD PUBLIC EVENTS THAT ALIGNED WITH ITS MISSION TO SUPPORT INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS RETURNING TO THE COMMUNITY. ONE EVENT IO HOSTED WAS A SCREENING OF JUSTUS, A MOVIE THAT HIGHLIGHTS THE GRASSROOTS EFFORTS OF INCARCERATED AND FORMERLY INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS AND ACTIVISTS IN REFORMING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND ENDING THE RACIAL DISPARITY IN SENDING AFRICAN AMERICANS TO PRISON. INSIDE OUT LED A POST-SCREENING DISCUSSION OF THE MOVIE WITH IO MEMBERS. IO ALSO HELD A WEBINAR HALFWAY HOME IN JOHNSON COUNTY. THIS WEBINAR EXPLORED THE IDEAS THAT MASS INCARCERATION IS DESIGNED TO FOLLOW PEOPLE HOME - FROM THE EFFECTS OF HAVING LIVED IN A DEHUMANIZING ENVIRONMENT TO THE CONTINUING CONFINES OF LIFE ON PAROLE, FROM LEGAL DISCRIMINATION IN HOUSING AND JOB MARKETS TO WIDESPREAD SOCIAL STIGMA. IO HAD PEOPLE RETURNING TO JOHNSON COUNTY, IA, AFTER INCARCERATION DISCUSS SOME OF THE MANY CHALLENGES THEY FACED AND WHAT HAS HELPED THEM SUCCEED. ADDITIONALLY, DURING FY22, IO MADE GREAT ADVANCEMENTS ON ONE OF OUR LONG-TERM GOALS, WHICH IS CREATING OUR OWN REENTRY HOUSING. INSIDE OUT BEGAN RAISING FUNDS AND DEVELOPED THE PROGRAMMATIC COMPONENTS FOR THE HOME. IN THE FOLLOWING FISCAL YEAR, IO WILL BE PURCHASING A 4- TO 6-BEDROOM HOME IN IOWA CITY THAT WILL HOUSE INDIVIDUALS UPON RELEASE FROM INCARCERATION. THIS PROJECT WILL SERVE MEN WHO HAVE BEEN RELEASED FROM JAIL, PRISON, OR WORK RELEASE WITHIN THE PAST 6 MONTHS, WITH PREFERENCE TO THOSE RELEASING FROM PRISON DIRECTLY TO IO HOUSING. RESIDENTS WILL BE LOW INCOME, AT OR BELOW 30% AREA MEDIAN INCOME AT THE TIME OF ADMISSION.