Ex-offender Reentry: Program Startup

Articles, Excerpts, Tips & More
Steps & Timeline for Starting a "Meet Me at the Gate" Program: This provides a listing of the activities necessary for a church to undertake in developing the Koinonia House National Ministries (KHNM) style of post-prison ministry of biblical discipleship for Christian neighbors coming out of prison.
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Ex-offender Reentry Programs Toolkit: In light of high recidivism rates, many faith-based organizations are realizing the need to get involved in providing help to ex-offenders. This toolkit draws on materials from a variety of proven ex-offender reentry programs to provide advice, information, and practical implementation and evaluation tools for faith leaders interested in launching their own aftercare programs.
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Checklist for Preparing to Develop A Housing Program for Ex-Offenders: This list of questions will help FBO leaders “cover the bases” when pre-planning a potential housing outreach for ex-offenders.
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Recommended Books
Meet Me at the Gate : This program manual enables a church to "adopt" an ex-prisoner into their church family immediately upon his or her release for intense aftercare and discipleship.
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Guide for Developing Housing for Ex-Offenders: This step-by-step guide provides information about how to develop a transitional housing program for prisoners following their release.
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Equipping Your Church to Minister to Ex-Offenders: This manual, premised on the author’s work with ex-offenders in Washington, DC, provides guidance and practical tools for churches starting up a ministry for ex-offenders.
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The Real World of Restorative Justice Ministry: Today’s Inmates ARE Tomorrow’s Neighbors: This book gives a broad overview of the varying aspects of Restorative Justice Ministry. Contents include program ideas, practical guidelines for prison ministry, and testimonies.
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Planting an Ex-Offender Family Church: This free handbook is written for ex-offenders who wish to plant a church for other ex-offenders. It includes guidelines applicable to any church as well as insight into the challenges unique to serving this population.
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When Prisoners Return: This book describes the challenges ex-offenders face upon release and the ways congregations and individuals can help.
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Substance Abuse Treatment for Criminal Offenders: Fairly academic and technical, this book is a good resource for professionals in the substance abuse treatment field who work with criminal offenders.
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Recommended Links
Conquest Offender Reintegration Ministries: This Washington, D.C.-based ministry works with the local church and corrections officials to meet the needs of ex-offenders and help them avoid re-incarceration.
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Reentry National Media Outreach Campaign: This site supports the work of faith-based and community-based organizations by offering media resources to facilitate the development of successful reentry programs.
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Restorative Justice Ministry Network of North America: This group informs and educates churches, government, media, businesses and the public about the need to implement biblical solutions to criminal justice problems.
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Transition of Prisoners, Inc.: Transition of Prisoners, Inc. is a successful faith-based reentry program that offers training and consulting services to other organizations ministering to ex-offenders.
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Family Justice: Built from practical experience through the noprofit, Bodega de Familia, the Family Justice approach draws on the strengths of families and neighborhoods to break the cycle of recidivism.
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Koinonia House National Ministries: This organization is dedicated to bridging the gap between prison and the local church. It trains churches to embrace Christian ex-offenders by offering mentoring services and operating local Koinonia House ministries.
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