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In addition to the requirements expressed in the Mentor’s
Job Description, all RFI mentor/red badge volunteers agree
to comply with general DOC policies and any protocols unique
to the facility in which the mentor volunteers.
This Mentor Assignment Description provides
detailed procedures with the goal of clarifying RFI expectations
regarding the mentor/mentee relationship.
This document will be reviewed annually and
updated as needed.
During the Mentee’s Incarceration:
• At the time of assignment the mentor
will introduce herself to the mentee’s counselor. They
will discuss pertinent information about the offender’s
proposed release and reentry plans as they evolve. This contact
can be done in person, writing letters, email or telephonically.
The discussion with the counselor will afford the mentor and
counselor opportunity to exchange pertinent information about
the offender and enter data into the offender’s working
file.
• Per DOC Policy 530.100, the mentor may choose to meet
with the Facility Risk Management Team of the offender/mentee
to discuss evolving reentry plans.
• The mentor will meet with assigned “mentee”
(s) one or two times monthly. As the mentee grows close to
her ERD, OR if the mentee demonstrates need for more intensive
guidance, the mentor visits will increase as needed.
• One month prior to release those meetings will increase
to weekly visits.
• Mentors will schedule their visits according to the
individual facility’s guidelines.
• During the meeting times, the following information
will be gathered for the offender’s transition plan:
? Demographics
? Reviewing dreams and hopes
? Addressing fears and concerns
? Realistically reviewing needs
? Writing draft reentry plans
• Mentors will supply the offender with current information
for the release community reference housing, job and educational
opportunities, finances, medical services, local churches,
NA, AA, CA, and Celebrate Recovery, etc.
• Often the offender will be given homework to do such
as applying for clean and sober housing, writing community
agencies requesting information, completing budget work sheets,
completing goal and objective worksheets, and contacting any
of the above in the community in which they are releasing.
• The mentor can deliver pertinent information and literature
either in person, through the offender’s counselor,
or by mail. Mail addressed to an offender will include their
name, DOC number and unit location, if known. In such cases
the mentor must use a return address citing a PO Box (to include
RFI’s PO Box), church, or work address.
• Under no other circumstances will a Red Badge volunteer
write an offender other than her mentee.
Initiation of the Mentor Process:
• Offenders request RFI reentry assistance by completing
the “RFI Offender Reentry Assistance Request Form.”
The offender should procure this form from her counselor.
It is the counselor’s responsibility to confirm that
the offender meets the 7 criteria, sign the application, and
return it to the offender for mailing. In addition, Release
of Information Form 09-242 will be signed by offender prior
to mentoring.
• Upon receipt of the request, an application packet
will be prepared by RFI’s Reentry Manager and returned
to those offenders that meet the 7 basic criteria listed on
the form. When offenders do not meet the basic criteria, a
declination of services letter will be written and mailed
to the offender.
• Offenders will return the completed application by
mail to the RFI PO Box 2182, Gig Harbor, WA 98335.
• Upon timely receipt of the completed application it
will be reviewed and screened. If the offender’s application
is considered acceptable, the RFI Reentry Manager will forward
the file/records to the “Lead RFI Facility Mentor”.
• Once the Lead Facility Mentor receives the application,
she will assign the mentee to a prospective mentor/red badge
volunteer.
• Individual mentors are responsible for scheduling
their own interview appointments.
• After the initial interview, if for any reason the
mentor believes the offender should not be accepted into the
RFI Mentoring Program, both the offender and her counselor
will be notified either in person or in writing,
• Mentors commonly contact a variety of resources in
the community to report back to the offender, including:
? clean and sober housing update
? work application status
? local churches
? family members IF they are to be involved in the offender’s
reentry process
? CCO in the County to which the offender is to be released.
• This pertinent information is then shared with the
offender at their next scheduled appointment.
Release Process:
• The mentor
will communicate with the counselor and mentee at least one
week prior to discharge regarding the release plan of the
offender. Per DOC Policy 530.100, the counselor will document
these plans on OMNI.
• If for any reason the offender needs to take public
transportation to her receiving community, the mentor will
ensure that the offender has the mentor’s contact information
(cell phone number only) and a prepaid calling card, to be
distributed via property officer with outgoing property the
day of release.
Day of Release
• Mentor
or other pre-approved person will report to Control/Public
Access at the designated time and then wait for further instruction.
• The mentor (or driver) will drive the offender to
her release address or to the appropriate public transportation
system.
• The first few days may include the following types
of contact:
? During the hours together, the mentor will hostess mentee
to basic meals.
? Escort mentee to CCO. Participate in the mentee’s
intake if permitted by the CCO, introducing herself and explaining
the role she represents in the offender’s life.
? Escort mentee to DSHS.
? Escort mentee to DOL and help her procure either WA State
ID or DL.
? Upon request of mentee, mentor may take her to churches
within the community or find someone in the community to do
so.
? Upon request of mentee , escort mentee to local bank and
help advocate the mentee’s needs to establish checking
and savings accounts.
? If the mentee has pending court issues & upon request
of mentee, the mentor may drive and escort her mentee, offering
support as needed.
? If the mentee has health issues & upon request of mentee,
the mentor may transport her to and from doctor’s appointments,
again offering support as needed.
Supplies Commonly
Rendered to the Mentee:
• Clothes
Closet donations
• Housing support: RFI commonly makes the house deposit
and first month’s rent at a clean and sober house. On
a case by case basis, RFI may offer security payment for an
offender releasing with children to a duplex, small apartment,
or house.
• For mentees resuming parental responsibilities and
releasing to an apartment or duplex RFI further donates such
standard household goods as: coffee pot, toaster, dishes,
pots and pans, glasses, flatware, lamps, sofa, bed frames
and mattresses, etc.
• Hygiene items
• Bus pass or bus tickets
• Prepaid phone card or prepaid cell phone
• Linens to include mattress cover, blanket, comforter/bedspread,
pillow, sheets and towels
• $50 gift card for additional clothes, underwear and
shoes
• $50 gift card for groceries
Resources:
• Commonly
the items listed above will be purchased using RFI funds,
come from RFI existing stock (donated items or purchased)
and/or come from community contacts working in collaboration
with RFI. All items should be recorded in the mentees RFI
file.
• In-kind donations from mentors require the completion
of the RFI Reimbursement Form, allowing RFI opportunity to
record and track the donation.
• The mentor is required to furnish a completed report
of the status of the mentee relationship and the resources
expended ( both RFI & in-kind donations) to the RFI Reentry
Manager on a monthly basis.
Ongoing follow-up:
1. Once the offender is established in the community, the
mentor continues to be available for dialogue and support
to the mentee via phone and intermittent visits. Note: The
mentor provides ONLY their cell phone number to the mentee.
The mentor will not provide the mentee with their home phone
number, address or other inappropriate personal information.
2. Once the mentor-mentee relationship has been broken or
otherwise ended, that working file will be returned to the
RFI Reentry Manager.
3. To assure competency and adherence to existing DOC policies
and procedures, RFI will require active mentors to attend
a “training update” a minimum of one time a year.
4. For continuity of services across the state, RFI will offer
mentors an opportunity to share their successes, challenges
and stressors via a regular support group potluck gathering.
5. Former mentees will be invited to a potluck gathering once
a quarter.
Summary: This document
is a list of RFI reentry mentor services to ladies releasing
from WCCW, MCCCW, HBR Work Release and Eleanor Chase Work
Release. On rare occasions, a few mentees may be releasing
from other work releases across the state of Washington. We
expect that there may be some differences in style and delivery
of services depending upon the facility and the mentor. We
recognize that mentors will have different schedules, styles
of delivery and “gifting”. However, those differences
should not affect the overall outcome of the mentor program
as noted above. In all cases facility mentors need to work
collaboratively and effectively with the facility staff in
which they volunteer, adhering to the unique guidelines of
that facility.
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