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Northern Shenandoah Valley Re-Entry Council 

Re-Entry Efforts in Virginia

 

Numerous states around the country have implemented successful reentry programs to unite released offenders with their families and communities.  Virginia is implementing comprehensive and coordinated services utilizing efforts from local and state government agencies, not-for-profit agencies, the faith-based community, businesses and volunteers within communities. 

 

Everyone in the community benefits from this concept!   The community obtains a citizen that is off the streets, off welfare, employed, paying taxes, paying child support and living a productive life.

 

Help us become more productive in the fight against crime.  It cost much less to keep a former lawbreaker in the community than it does to house him or her in prison.  We all know that self-sufficiency and financial independence brings much more money in the bank.  An entire family gets another chance. 

 

Virginia Reentry and Community Collaboration Councils are addressing key community issues facing localities and implementing a collaborative reentry approach unique in its integration of human services and public safety.

 

In participating localities, Councils bring together human services, public safety and other public agencies along with private agencies, non-profits, law enforcement, the courts, businesses, community-based service providers and faith-based organizations.

Community Collaboration Councils address reentry and other community issues such as housing, employment, behavioral health, substance abuse, family services, positive youth development, benefits and food assistance. They identify community assets and service gaps and they focus on reentry by addressing reentry barriers and coordinating reentry related services and resources.

Collaboration Councils also maximize effective use of existing resources. They do not impose any requirements on institutions or on local government agencies and their community partners. Rather, councils are individuals, agencies and organizations coming together to address community needs through effective collaboration.

 

The goals of the reentry approach implemented through local Reentry & Community Collaboration Councils are to increase public safety through reduced recidivism, to maximize opportunities for former offenders returning to the community and to support family and community reintegration for persons previously incarcerated.

 

This reentry collaboration approach is developed around four primary principles: pre-release planning, interagency coordination, integrated service delivery and support of family and community reintegration, including development of positive links to the community.

 

Local Reentry & Community Collaboration Councils place emphasis on adoption of evidence-based programming by community service providers, on access to employment and workforce development services, on reentry coaches to support responsible decision making, on development of positive work habits, on formation of healthy relationships and on use of positive parenting practices.

Community Collaboration Councils allow communities across Virginia to address locality specific issues, needs and asset in a planned and coordinated way. They also address reentry issues and barriers using a common vision based on shared principles and a collaborative community-based reentry approach.

Mission

 

It is the mission of the Northern Shenandoah Valley Reentry Council to promote public safety, reduce recidivism and coordinate services for returning citizens coming back to the local community after a period of incarceration.

 

Vision

 

A Commonwealth in which people previously incarcerated access quality services to assist them in becoming productive citizens thus promoting stable families and safer communities.

 

Our Role

 

  • Determine the best pratice model that will successfully assist with the reintergration of the ex-offenders within the Northern Shenandoah Valley while increasing employability and self sufficiency

 

  • The council will perform community outreach and advocacy to create awareness of the benefits of successful reentry, ecourage acceptance af ex-offenders and increase community awareness.

 

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