Did You Know…?

During the last fiscal year OAR served 3,812 clients at six jail sites and three post-release offices.  The total number of clients served included clients who were new to OAR during the fiscal year and “continuing” clients who had also received services during the previous fiscal year.  Intake interviews with new clients revealed the following information:

96% were unemployed or had been

        unemployed prior to their incarceration

27% were homeless or had been homeless

        prior to their incarceration

37% lacked a high school education or GED

51%r were parents of minor children

Service Highlights for FY 07

Ø      12,236 units of job search assistance & employment support services provided    

Ø      5,576 educational/support group sessions attended

Ø      882 identification documents secured

Ø      434 clients received housing assistance

Ø      560 food referrals distributed

Ø      307 full-time and 35 part-time jobs obtained

Ø      92 clients received work boots, tools, or  clothing required by their employers

Ø      177 clients received incentives for maintaining consistent employment

We cannot address our clients’ service needs alone.  We need, and value, the support of others in our community—public social services agencies, nonprofit community organizations, churches, businesses, state agencies, local governments, legislators, and other community members. 

Volunteer News

From July, 2006 through June, 2007, 92 volunteers provided 3,258 hours of their time to the organization.  They served as facilitators of client groups, coordinators of special projects, mentors, tutors, and Board members. 

Get to Know OAR’s New Community Resources Coordinator…

In our last newsletter Christy Ellis said goodbye to our readers and thanked all of our volunteers with whom she had worked for their commitment to our clients.  In mid September our new Community Resources Coordinator, Sandra Hall, joined our staff and is preparing, with Christy’s help, to pick up where Christy left off.  Ms. Hall is returning to the nonprofit human services arena after venturing into the for-profit world for a few years.  She is excited about this new opportunity and will start contacting our current volunteers and recruiting new volunteers at the completion of her training. 

Volunteer Opportunities

P    Responsibilities of Fatherhood: Help clients learn the financial and emotional responsibilities of fatherhood in this 6 week program.

P    Parenting Education Group for females:  Help incarcerated parents improve their parenting skills in this 8 week program.

P    Impact of Crime on Victims:  Educate offenders on the impact that crime has on victims, families, and communities by teaching a series of classes in this 11 week program.

P    Mock Job Interviews:  Give clients an opportunity to practice their interviewing skills.

P    New Program Opportunities:  Volunteer to work with clients in the AND program designed specifically for females with prostitution convictions; and recruit businesses to provide “makeovers” for AND program participants.

P    Cooking Classes:  Would you, your church, or civic group be interested in teaching cooking classes to OAR's post-release clients?

P    Computer Skills Classes:  Teach post-release clients basic computer skills.    

Call Sandra Hall at 643-2746 to find out more about volunteering with OAR.

Board News

OAR welcomes our newest Board member:   Rich Johnson.  Rich has been representing the indigent with the Public Defender's Office of Richmond since 2004.  He also serves as Secretary of the Richmond Criminal Bar Association.  When not in court, Rich enjoys playing golf, playing with his dogs, and getting ready for his wedding in December.  We appreciate Rich’s commitment to OAR’s mission.

Mark your calendars now for the Board of Directors’ Annual Meeting at the Richmond City Police Academy on Wednesday, November 28, beginning at 5:30 p.m.  Please plan to join us and celebrate OAR’s 36 years of service to the community. 

Staff News

We would like to welcome the following new people who joined our staff during the first quarter of this fiscal year:  Sarah Cochran, Post-release Intake Case Manager, Sandra Hall, Community Resources Coordinator, Vickie Jones, Operations Manager, Rebecca McCaden, Group Facilitator, at Riverside Regional Jail, and Shanika Myles, Special Programs Case Manager.

Program Expansion

OAR is continuously expanding services to meet the needs of our clients and the community.  During the last quarter the Petersburg part-time case manager position was increased to full-time after arrangements were finalized to provide post-release case management services at the Department of Corrections (DOC) Probation & Parole office in the area and group facilitator services to DOC pre-release clients at Riverside Regional Jail.  Plans are currently underway to expand services at additional satellite sites in OAR’s service area. 

With new funding opportunities anticipated, more program expansion is on the horizon.  Even though the organization has been around for 36 years, it remains responsive to its mission and the increasing needs of the population it serves.

Boaz & Ruth @ OAR

October 14 marks the three year anniversary of the opening of the Boaz & Ruth @ OAR store located on the first floor of OAR’s building at 300 E. Main Street.  Store hours are 11:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.  The store carries a diverse collection of antiques, collectibles, home accessories, all occasion greeting cards for $1.25 and many items suitable for gifts.  All items have been donated and cleaned and/or refurbished by Boaz & Ruth program trainees.  If you would like to donate items to OAR for the store, contact Barbara Slayden at 643-2746.

Thank you to…

LaShaun Evans, Terry Hague, Peggy Horn, Ron Jordan, Richard Massey, Mary Munton, John Rice, Basil Smith, Kathleen Tauer, and the Virginia Law Foundation who donated money, gift certificates, or other items to OAR during the last quarter.

United Way Campaign

This year’s United Way of Greater Richmond and Petersburg campaign is off to a great start.  The support of United Way staff, volunteers, and contributors has provided a "security blanket" for OAR for over 30 years.  United Way's Community Care Fund and Focused Care contribution options give you the opportunity to support hundreds of human services programs in our community.  When deciding how much you will contribute, be as generous as you can.

"People will forget what you said…

People will forget what you did…but

people will never forget how you made them feel."