NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE

Spring 2003

A Message from the Director

Our funding roller coaster ride continues! As many of you know, state funding for PAPIS (Pre-release and Post-incarceration Services) was eliminated December 31, 2002. However, during this year's General Assembly session, Governor Warner submitted a budget amendment for $438,274 for PAPIS providers for FY 2004. This amount is the required match the 10 PAPIS providers will need to receive federal funding next fiscal year.

The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) has secured Byrne Memorial federal funding for PAPIS programs for the next 3 fiscal years. Federal funding for FY 2004 will cover 75% of our former PAPIS state funding and requires a 25% match. Federal funding will decrease by 25% each of the following 2 fiscal years while the required match will increase 25% each year. After the third fiscal year, federal funding will disappear.

When the General Assembly completed its budget, the Governor's PAPIS budget amendment was eliminated. There are currently no funds in the budget for PAPIS. Prior to cuts and then elimination of state funding, OAR of Richmond received $277,082 annually in state funds. It is vital that OAR raises enough funds to at least maintain our current level of services to our clients.

A February, 2003, "snapshot" of all new post-release clients first served by OAR staff in February, 2002, revealed that 74% of them had not been re-convicted of a new crime; this is consistent with a "snapshot" of our February, 2001, new post-release clients as well. Nationally, approximately two-thirds of all inmates released have new convictions within three years, with the majority of those new convictions occurring within the first year.

OAR's programs work--they do as intended. They provide the services needed by offenders to become productive, taxpaying members of our communities and, at the same time, save taxpayers from the burden of the high cost of incarceration. Please be vocal in your support for offender services by contacting the Governor to request that he, again, include PAPIS funding in a budget amendment. Your contacts need to be made before March 24. If the Governor does restore PAPIS funding, we will then need to contact our legislators and urge them to support the Governor's budget amendment during their April 2 veto session. Thank you for your support--it is very much appreciated.

- Barbara A. Slayden

Volunteer News

Since July, 2002, 85 volunteers and interns have assisted OAR staff in providing 2,006 hours of service to 493 clients at five service locations. Their continuing support for OAR programs is very much appreciated.

We welcome the following new volunteers and interns: Margot Ackermann, Kevin Boll, Debra Brooks, Kyle Christie, Alfred DuBose, Ernest Moseley, Elizabeth Outten, April Sebera, Dorothy Wade, Alethia Watford, and Robchel Williams.

Get to Know an OAR Volunteer…

Dave Schottel is a new resident of the Richmond area. He learned about OAR at the Volunteer Match website in October and has been volunteering with us ever since. Dave is a dedicated tutor to two inmates at Pamunkey Regional Jail spending about 2 hours each week with them. Both inmates have recently taken the GED exam and are anxiously awaiting their results. When Dave is not volunteering with OAR, he helps facilitate meditation groups at Greensville Correctional Center, in addition to keeping busy with two dogs he recently adopted from the Hanover Humane Society.

Volunteer Opportunities

• Impact of Crime on Victims speakers
• Parent Education Group facilitators
• Substance Abuse Group facilitators

STAFF NEWS

After giving birth to a little girl in February, Alita Brooks, OAR pre-release case manager at Pamunkey Regional Jail and post-release Employment Services case manager in the Central Office, has decided to return to her hometown of Philadelphia. We wish her much success in her move.

Client News

Ms. G. became an OAR client in June, 2002, while she was a resident at the Women's Diversion Center in Richmond. Ms. G. attended OAR's Employment Training Class and was immediately hired by a local hotel. Two months later she began working for Target. After graduating from the Diversion Center Program, she moved into a recovery house, which Target fully furnished for her. Ms. G. just celebrated her two-year anniversary of sobriety. She continues to work full-time at Target and is actively involved in her community. She currently works with recovering adults and abused women. She is a member of a gospel choir, New Life Christian Drug Ministry, and often is a guest speaker at graduations, churches, and other events. While traveling down her road to sobriety, Ms. G. has managed to mend her relationship with her family. She has five children and six grandchildren in her life again.

BOARD NEWS
 
 The OAR Board of Directors and staff will be manning a booth at the Virginia Bazaar Flea Market April 5-6. We are hoping to raise much needed funds and "test the waters" to see if this might be a productive way to continue to raise funds in the future. Our success depends on our supporters donating items for us to sell and buying that rare item you have been looking for when visiting our booth. The Virginia Bazaar is located off I-95 North at the Ladysmith exit. Hours of operation are 9-5 Saturday and Sunday. If you have items to donate, you may bring them to OAR's downtown office at One North Third Street by April 1. All donors will receive a letter acknowledging their donation. And please make your plans to visit our booth during the weekend of April 5-6.

NEW Advocacy Coalition

The Coalition on Collateral Consequences of Criminal Convictions was formed as a result of public hearings initiated by Sen. Henry Maxwell and his Senate subcommittee. During these hearings held throughout the state, the subcommittee listened to the difficulties, primarily in the areas of housing and employment, experienced by ex-offenders. Not only do convicted felons lose voting rights, but they are also denied access to many more basic opportunities--opportunities that many of us take for granted on a daily basis. The Coalition, which has brought together a number of different organizations such as Virginia CURE, Virginia CARES, Step-Up, OAR, and Virginians Against the Death Penalty as well as a number of ex-offenders, met on a continuous basis prior to this year's legislative session to determine its legislative agenda. Although the Coalition is in its' first year, there was success during this year's legislative session with bills prohibiting employment discrimination in the state procurement process and occupational licensing procedures based solely on a person's criminal conviction. The Coalition owes much gratitude to Sen. Maxwell and his legislative assistant, Sherri Neil, for their support and hard work. If you are interested in becoming a part of this Coalition, contact Barbara A. Slayden at 643-2746.

"The older you get the more you realize that kindness is synonymous with happiness."
    -Lionel Barrymore

Reminder
If you move, please call us or email your change of address to info@oarric.org.
Thank you.

Thank You To…

Charles Adcock, Altria Group, Inc., Renee Brooks & family, Aan Bui, Bon Air United Methodist Church, CHANGERichmond 2002, City of Richmond, Robert & Maryellen Edmiston, Mike Evans, R. Leigh Frackelton, Jr., Christine Gibson, Jerry Giles, Ginter Park Presbyterian Church, Diana Gray, Paul & Elizabeth Gregg, Russell & Marcia Gregg, Mary Jane Gregg, Arthur & Anne Higgins, Annette Hill, Ewen & Nancy Hill, Don Keck, Mr. & Mrs. Bob King, Henry Loving, Douglas Massey, Robert Massey, Marian Murray, Dusty O'Quinn, John & Jennifer Owen, Lewis Parker, James Payne, Brigitte Reid, Retreat Hospital, John Rice, Shirley Robertson & family, Reggie Jones and Robins Foundation, St. Peter Baptist Church, Peter & Celia Scott, Robert & Ruth Shrimplin, Barbara Slayden, Temple of Judah, VATEX, Burl & Karyn Wingold, Frank Wood, Tommy Wrenn, and Gray Wyatt who contributed clothing, money, or other items to OAR during the last quarter.

OAR Upcoming Activities

• April 5 & 6 - Virginia Bazaar Flea Market
• April 28 - Volunteer Training and Recognition
• May 8 - Job Fair for OAR Clients
• June 13 - Ukrop's Golden Certificates deadline

Homeless Services Provider Tours

The Homeward Housing work group conducts tours of homeless services sites throughout the community. Tours include shelters, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing programs. If you want to take a tour, call Candice Streett at 788-6825. Tours are scheduled for: May 20, August 19, and November 18.

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