Valley Charities Mat-Su Reentry Program Provides a Path to Success
Contributed by Randi Perlman
Our pathway through life can take many twists and turns along the way. Poor decisions can sometimes create serious problems and can lead to prison time for some Mat-Su residents. The focus and goal of the Valley Charities Mat-Su Reentry Program is to help these individuals integrate successfully back into the community by setting them up for success with skills to contribute to society in a positive way. Successful reentry has been noted across the country in reducing crime and imprison rates.
The Mat-Su Reentry Coalition (MSRC) is a collaboration of individuals, community stakeholders, public and nonprofit agencies, faith-based and business partners who are united and committed to reducing recidivism among returning citizens to the Mat-Su community. MSRE works on high-end problems, aiming to remove barriers to reentrance for those citizens who are seeking a new start after incarceration. The Coalition is geared toward a very specific target population which is individuals of medium to high risk to re-offend and recidivate to prison. Age can range anywhere from eighteen to ninety. The ultimate goal is to help the individual become stable and efficient on their own. Funding comes in the form of grants through Alaska Mental Health Trust as well as Mat-Su Health Foundation.
Barbara Mongar is the Coalition Coordinator, working closely with partner agencies as a 10-member Steering Team that meets at least monthly. The organizations that make up the Steering Committee are: True North Recovery, Goose Creek Correctional Facility, Palmer Probation Office, Alaska Veterans Assistance, Mat-Su Job Center, Access Alaska, Mat-Su Housing & Homelessness Coalition, Knik Tribe, Mat-Su Health Services, and Set Free Alaska. Other organizations that are part of the coalition include: Alaska Legal Services, Mat-Su Public Health Services, AK Dept. of Corrections, Connect Mat-Su, Victim Advocacy, AK Div. of Vocational Rehabilitation, Chickaloon Tribe, and Alaska Family Services. They are currently planning the annual Reentry Summit that provides free training for anyone interested in learning more about the reentry program. At the Summit, ‘Building Bridges to Success’, several knowledgeable speakers will impart valuable information that can help with the reentry process, such as employment, housing, mental health and more. This year’s Reentry Summit is funded by the Mat-Su Health Foundation and will be held at the Menard Center in Wasilla from 9:00am to 3:30pm on September 5 & 6. The public is invited to this free event and lunch is included! Registration information will be forthcoming and seating is limited. For more information on the Summit, contact Mongar at 907-414-4077 or barbara.mongar@valleycharities.org.
Cindy Yeager is a Case Manager for the Mat-Su Reentry Program, along with Brian Galloway. Galloway executes the State of Alaska (SOA) reentry program while Yeager is Coordinator and Case Manager for the Second Chance Program and works closely with fellow Second Chance Case Manager, April Cheek. Yeager makes contact with potential candidates looking for services after release from prison, verifies their eligibility, and gets them set up through a phone conversation that helps establish their specific needs and release plans. Yeager can assist with the services they may need to connect with, such as transitional living, job placement resources, or a driver’s license. The program will not cover the cost of things such as tuition, attorney fees, fines, restitution or taxes, however anything that will assist the client’s stability in reentry through connection to the right agency or resource can be accomplished. In the 4 years Yeager has been involved with this program, it has grown exponentially. The true scope of the program is to help promote integration into the community and for individuals to be successful in their own right, which looks different for everyone, and to not be dependent on public assistance or substance use.
The Reentry Program often sees a spike in reentrance and need in the fall as temperatures start to drop, and conversely a large number of prison releases tends to happen in the spring. Approximately 500 reentrants are released each year from 4 facilities in the area: Goose Creek Correctional Center, Palmer Correctional Center, Pt. MacKenzie Correctional Farm, and Mat-Su Pretrial. The recidivism rate for Alaska right now is 60%. This means that of the 5,000 or so incarcerated persons across the State of Alaska, 60% will return to prison within 3 years. However, when offenders receive the help they need through a reentry program, that rate drops significantly. Lower recidivism rates equate to less crime and a safer community. Mental health and substance use issues often go hand-in-hand in many cases and can lead to criminal charges.
Valley Charities’ 2 case management programs, Second Chance and Community-Base to Reentry, both run for 6 months. The 4-person team of Mongar, Galloway, Yeager, and Cheek runs the Reentry Program for the entire Mat-Su Borough, an area the size of West Virginia. Both Mongar and Yeager point to their many partnerships in the Valley as their biggest strength. The coalition agencies all work together to provide, or find, the resources needed to help a reentrant find a pathway to success.
Valley Charities, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing life-changing programs and opportunities to Valley residents. VCI has been quietly serving the Mat-Su Borough for over 60 years. Through their Housing Assistance Partnership Program, Mat-Su Reentry Program, Medical Equipment Lending Program, and turn-A-leaf Thrift Store, alongside many strong community partnerships, VCI serves the needs of Valley residents and helps them thrive. These compassionate programs encompass and fulfill VCI’s vision to make the Mat-Su Valley a healthier and happier place to reside for everyone. For more information, visit www.valleycharities.org or call 907-376-5740.