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Catholic Charities’ Prison After-Care Program
Offers Support to Recent Parolees
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Sister Mary Sean, an employee of Catholic Charities, visits Bobby at his job site, the Toyota dealership in Glendora.
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When Sister Mary Sean Hodges, O.P., Coordinator of the Partnership for Re-Entry Program (PREP), first with met Bobby, then an inmate at Avenal State Prison, she tried to find some common ground from which to form a relationship with him. After serving over 6 years of an 8 year sentence for drug possession, the second-time offender was due to be released from prison in February 2004. During one conversation, Sister and Bobby found they both liked running and Bobby agreed to participate, along with Sister, in the March 7th L.A. Marathon.
This first attempt to forge a bond with Bobby was indicative of the approach taken by Sister Mary Sean and the volunteers who staff the Partnership for Re-Entry Program, funded by Catholic Charities and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, and housed at the Archdiocesan Catholic Center in Los Angeles. Sister and seven parish-based mentor teams meet with inmates who are about to be paroled from prison and wish to develop a re-entry plan. Team members take participants to their new place of residence, accompany them to the parole office, and meet with them weekly. Supportive services such as skills training and job referrals, as well as access to drug and alcohol programs, are available.
Upon release, Bobby continued training for the big race and was accepted in the Road Runners, a group that helps maintain the pace for other runners during the event. He finished the race with a time of 6 hours, 10 minutes and now works with John Odor and the mentor team from Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Claremont on goals to reestablish a relationship with his children and go to vocational school. Bobby recently took a job at a car dealership in Glendora which will allow him to save money to rent an apartment.
Sister Mary Sean comments, “Bobby has a clear vision of what he wants to do. People can change on their own, but they have a better chance with support from others.” For more information about the Partnership for Re-Entry Program, contact her at (213) 637-7366.
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A Message from the Executive Director,
Monsignor Gregory A. Cox
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As the economy shows signs of strengthening, many people who previously gave up hope for employment are now looking for work. One of the key factors for individuals seeking employment is affordable childcare. The lack of quality childcare is a major challenge that society faces today.
Catholic Charities’ “Archdiocese Elementary School Time Enrichment” (ADESTE) program provides quality, affordable, before and after school care for children of working medium and low-income families. The ADESTE Program serves children ages 4 years 9 months to 13 years in Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. Depending on the school, some programs operate before school from 7:00 am to 8:00 am; and all locations operate an after-school program from school dismissal to 6:00 pm, Monday through Friday.
According to a study performed by PACE, a Los Angeles County childcare needs assessment, “parents in Los Angeles County are half as likely to find licensed childcare spaces for their youngsters as parents in Northern California.” Catholic Charities provides organized activities that include supervised indoor and outdoor recreation, homework, arts and crafts. All activities have qualified staff that oversee 1,500 children in our 30 sites throughout the counties of Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara. Dedicated staff make sacrifices in their own lives in order to provide affordable childcare.
Children are most vulnerable after school until 6:00 pm, if they do not have any supervision or activities. Catholic Charities provides working parents with the comfort of knowing that their children are in a supportive and safe environment. |
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