Programs. OVERVIEW OF THE AFTER INCARCERATION SUPPORT SYSTEMS PROGRAM (AISS) The After Incarceration Support Systems Program (AISS) has been in existence since August 1. There are two vital components to the AISS Program. Those components are comprised of working with offenders within the correctional center prior to their release and working with the offenders post release when they transition back to the community. The AISS Program consists of nine Full Time staff; one part- time Faith Based Community Liaison; one part- time Contracted Employee; and six Senior Mentor positions (8 hours a week). Aiss Program Springfield MallAISS Program Supervisor. Location Springfield, Massachusetts Area Industry Law Enforcement. Current. Social Worker at MA Department of Children and Families. Find all information about After Incarceration Support Services Aiss Program. View the address, contact information, and any additional health center information, and. Parent Education Programs. but the parents of the same child may not attend the same program. On-Line Parent Education Programs are generally. Springfield, MA. Find clinic contact information, directions, hours and services for After Incarceration Support Services (aiss) Program at 736 State St, Springfield, Massachusetts. AISS HCSD Website Content. After Incarceration Support Systems Program (AISS) is located inside the W.W. Johnson Life Center, 736 State Street, Springfield, MA 01109. OVERVIEW OF THE AFTER INCARCERATION SUPPORT SYSTEMS PROGRAM (AISS) The After Incarceration Support Systems Program (AISS) has been in existence since August 1996. All Senior Mentors are ex- offenders who have changed their lives around and are working, participating in programming and living a substance and criminal free life. They are individuals who instill hope and represent change is possible. CORRECTIONAL CENTER COMPONENT OF AISS Goals of Correctional Center Component Of AISSTo ensure all offenders have the opportunity to create an individualized release plan prior to their release. To ensure all offenders are aware of AISS program, services the program offers and how to access program once released. To provide information on community resources to offenders as well as staff working with soon to be releasedoffenders. To consolidate release planning information from all departments To work in collaboration with parole. To provide soon to be released offenders an opportunity to meet with AISS staff they would be working with in the community Objectives To Accomplish Goals of Correctional Center Component Of AISS Facilitate Release Planning I (RPI) and Release Planning II (RPII) Groups for offenders who have 9. RPI and RPII are two groups which run a week apart. The groups are for offenders who have 9. During RPI offenders are educated on the AISS program. We inform them the assistance we can provide in the community and how to access AISS when released. During RPI each offender fills out a questionnaire which assists us as we are making recommendations for their individualized Release Plan. Between RPI and RPII group, the Release Planning Coordinator utilizes information from various sources which will assist him as he makes release planning recommendations for each individual offender attending RPII. Sources include: * Information from Trax Casemanagement which includes recommendations from the offender’s counselor* Information from other departments (mental health, vocations and education) * Offenders’ completed questionnaire (self assessment)During RPII each offender has an opportunity to complete an individualized release plan. All offenders in RPII group have an opportunity to meet with the Education Reintegration Counselor. All offenders in RPII group meet with a community staff member from AISS to review their plan Resource Room Staff and Offenders can utilize all resources in the room. AISS provides open hours each week where we can assist both staff and offenders in accessing resources in room. Hundreds of Brochures in English and Spanish on agencies and the services they provide in the community, residential programs, clothing, food, employment, vocational training, hotline numbers, etc.* Brochures on AA and NA meetings in all the towns in Hampden County* Computerized Resource Directory- allows user to find detailed information on hundreds of agencies, the services they provide and how an ex- offender or soon to be released offender can access the services. Agencies are categorized by zip code so the user can input zip code of where they will be moving back to and all agencies in that area will be displayed. Finally, the directory will allow the user to enter in what type of need they have (food, clothing, housing, etc) and the computer will list all agencies that can meet that need.* Reference Information Books which include: First Call Books, Resource Catalogs and Halfway House Listings. Short Term Pod- -provide informational groups on AISS to all offenders in the short- term pod. Provide each offender an opportunity to attend RPI and RPII ensuring each has an individualized release plan upon release. Accountability Pod- - provide informational groups on AISS to all offenders in the accountability pod. Provide each offender an opportunity to attend RPI and RPII ensuring each has an individualized release plan upon release. Attend Parole Hearings—meet with each offender at the hearing who has been given parole. Inform them about the services AISS provides once they are on parole. Schedule an appointment with offender to go to Resource Room to develop a release plan. Department of Corrections Offenders- -work in collaboration with Judit Morales. AISS is notified as DOC offenders are close to release. Schedule an appointment and meet with each one to develop a release plan and inform on AISS services available in community. BRING IN COMMUNITY STAFF TO MEET WITH SOON TO BE RELEASED OFFENDERS. Bring in staff and Senior Mentors Mentors to personally meet with offenders. This takes place during Release Planning II group, in the Accountability Pod, Responsibility Pod and in the Short- Term Pod. AISS Correctional Center Staff. Release Planning Coordinator. Responsible for ensuring all goals and objectives of correctional center component of AISS are met. CORRECTIONAL CENTER COMPONENT STATISTICAL DATAINDIVIDUALIZED RELEASE PLANS COMPLETED Year Release Plans Completed 1. Total Release Plans Completed Since AISS Program Began 8,5. Soon To be Released offenders we have met with from the following areas: Open Resource Room Hours- Each week there are hours available for offenders who wish to utilize the various resources. Preparation for Parole Hearings- AISS staff meets with offenders who are interested in developing a release plan and bringing it to their parole hearing. Parole- Offenders granted parole, we meet with to develop a release plan. Department of Corrections Offenders- We meet with each one in medium custody to ensure they have a plan prior to release. Pre- Release- Previously, we brought in the AISS community staff to meet with soon to be released offenders and review their release plans with them. C1- C4- We meet with offenders who are in segregation, but request to be discharged with a release plan OFFENDER QUESTIONNAIRE Offenders Who Are Interested In Participating In AISS After Release. During RPI group, which is for offenders who have 9. One of the questions is if they would be interested in participating in AISS once they are released. The statistics demonstrate that each year more and more offenders are expressing an interest in participating. We attribute this to the quality of services AISS provides. In addition, in 1. AISS staff they would be working with in the community. Yes - Interested No- Not Interested Not Sure 1. As interest increases while offenders are still incarcerated—the number of offenders who utilize program in community soars. STRATEGIES IMPLEMENTED TO CONNECT WITH OFFENDER IN CORRECTIONAL CENTER PRIOR TO RELEASE We have found one of the most effective ways to have offenders still incarcerated understand the importance of participating in aftercare post release was to have them connect with the people they would be working with in the community prior to their release. Strategies Initially and presently, we brought the Community Aftercare Coordinators in to meet with offenders in medium and review their release plans during the Release Planning II group. We have also included the AISS Faith Based Community Liaison to meet with soon to be released offenders. Next, we brought in our Senior Mentors to meet individually with offenders who were scheduled for release. Senior Mentors attend Release Planning II groups to meet with offenders before they are released. During Release Planning II group all soon to be released offenders meet with the AISS community staff and develop a personalized release plan to address the issues for which they are incarcerated. In addition, they also go into the Accountability Pod, Responsibility Pod (Pre- Trial) and Short Term Pod to make a connection with the offenders, share their stories, experiences and offer support to the offender when they are released. Our goal is to have every offender being released from the main facility meet with either the Community Aftercare Coordinator and/or one of the AISS Paid Mentors. We provide every offender the opportunity to leave the Correctional Center with a release plan that is designed especially to address the needs for which they were incarcerated. We review their release plan with them and encourage them to contact the AISS program when released. Results AISS provides every sentenced offender in the main facility the opportunity to be released with an individualized release plan. Since the program’s inception, 8,5. Release Plans have been developed. Saw a dramatic increase in the level of interest of offenders to utilize program once released. Went from 4. 0% to 7. And 7. 8% in 2. 00. Saw a dramatic increase in offenders who are interested in continuing with their education. This is due in large part to our Education Reintegration Coordinator who began meeting in 1. RPII groups. This increase was from 3. When we brought in our community staff, we went from servicing 2. COMMUNITY COMPONENT OF AISS The After Incarceration Support Systems Program assists ex- offenders in all aspects of their lives (depending on their needs) as they transition from incarceration to community. The majority of ex- offenders when released are faced with many problems ranging from lack of support, addiction, no place to live, no money, no job, no food, no clothes, no proper identification, no license, lack of confidence, fear of failure, inappropriate modeling by family/friends, constant temptation to return to criminal lifestyle, etc. In order to meet the needs of the ex- offender population, there are three ways AISS provides services to ex- offenders in the community. An ex- offender can participate in one or all of those listed below.
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