A Message from the Director

As most of you have probably experienced during the past 3+ years of financial losses and economic uncertainty, sometimes tough decisions have to be made.   Because OAR is going into its fourth year of challenging budget deficits and no new or restored funding in our immediate future, the Board had to make one of those tough decisions at its last meeting. 

OAR will be closing its Petersburg program effective September 30, 2011.  Sherilyn Merritt, our case manager in Petersburg, provides services at the Petersburg City Jail and Annex, the Department of Corrections’ Probation and Parole Petersburg office, and at OAR’s post-release office located in the Crater Workforce Center.  She also provides an orientation to OAR services once each quarter to Riverside Regional Jail inmates who are releasing to OAR’s service area.

We have notified our partners in Petersburg to let them know our program will be closing and we have begun meetings with others in the community who have expressed an interest in providing reentry services in the area.  We are hopeful that there will be an established organization willing to continue reentry services in the Petersburg region.  OAR’s Board and administrative staff are committed and ready to help.

Barbara A. Slayden

Volunteer News

Welcome to the following new volunteers:  Cory Baker, Joe Barger, Iva Brown, Ryan Cales, Stephanie Conyers, Marty Darden, David Gray, Yolanda Hines, Michael Lowery, Morgan Lytle, Catherine MacDonald, Kristin Reed, Angela Sullivan, Pam Ward, and Anne Weber.

Volunteers Needed

Central Office:  Adult Basic Education (ABE) tutors Wednesday and Thursday afternoons; Drum Circle facilitators one morning each week; Basic Cooking Instructors for a two-hour class each week; and Anger Management group facilitator for one class each week.  Except for ABE, class times can be tailored to each volunteer’s availability between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Henrico County Jail:  Facilitators for Parenting, Money Management, Healthy Relationships, and Productive Citizenship classes.  Pamunkey Regional Jail:  Facilitators for Healthy Relationships, Life Without a Crutch, and Money Management classes.  Richmond City Jail:  Facilitators for Fatherhood, Healthy Relationships, Life Without a Crutch, and Anger Management classes.  For more information, call Calvin Weaver at       643-2746.

Program News

Ø    OAR’s Second Chance Project which began in October, 2009, technically ends September 30, 2011; however, we have requested a no-cost extension through June, 2012, from the Bureau of Justice Assistance.  If our request is approved, we will be able to retain our case manager position and keep the project going.

For several reasons, the number of participants in the project has been much lower than what we had projected in our original grant application.  One of the major reasons for the low number has been the difficulty recruiting volunteer mentors (Second Chance coaches) for each participant beginning pre-release while they are still in one of our partner prisons through their one-year post-release anniversary date.  We realize this is a major commitment for any volunteer.  We have been so fortunate that the volunteers we did recruit and retain have been spectacular people. 

Three project participants were released over one year ago and several more are on track to make their one-year anniversary this summer.  So far, no Second Chance project participant who has been released has violated the terms of his/her supervision or been re-incarcerated—a zero recidivism rate!  We are very proud of our participants and our coaches who have been right there with them through all the ups and downs during their community reintegration. 

We want to continue what we have so successfully started and to do that we need your help--consider becoming a Second Chance coach and talk to your friends, family, colleagues, and church members about this very rewarding volunteer opportunity.  For more information, please contact Morgan Salvador at 643-2746.

Ø    OAR is currently working with Summit Construction and Environmental Services, LLC to provide job readiness, basic construction skills, and OSHA and lead abatement training and certification for clients.

Ø    Jenkins Foundation funding for the collaborative substance abuse counseling services that OAR and five other community organizations provide on-site was renewed.  Since the majority of our clients report a substance abuse history, we are very appreciative of this continued support.

Ø    OAR, the 1708 Gallery, and a local artist are partnering in the community’s newest mural project.  The project will result in an outdoor mural painted by OAR clients.

Client News

Kyle, age 49, first requested services from OAR in September, 2008.  Kyle expressed his desire for a career in the health care field.  At that time he was uncertain about his future due to his criminal record.  But he gradually developed a trusting relationship with his case manager who encouraged him to pursue his dream.  When his case manager explained to him that his convictions were not ones that would prohibit his working in the health care field, he moved ahead quickly preparing himself for the future.

Kyle began attending FOCUS groups for clients at OAR and felt that the support from the facilitator and group members encouraged him to continue to move forward and stay focused on his goals.  With the help of his case manager and Goodwill, Kyle began to feel that his dream was in reach and enrolled in a Certified Nursing Assistant program in February, 2009.  Kyle successfully completed the program and began working with a local health care agency.

Kyle continues to work in his dream career and keeps close contact with his case manager for continuing support.  In March, he was very proud of himself when he received OAR’s incentive of $100 for maintaining consistent employment for one year. 

Staff News

The following staff members left OAR since our last newsletter:  Megan Kirkland, Anna Gallant, and Joyce Fountaine.  OAR welcomed these new staff members:  David Stevenson and Nancy Lyons.   Shond Glover, who had been part-time with OAR at Pamunkey Regional Jail was welcomed into her full-time case manager position at Richmond City Jail.  

Board News

In May the Board held its annual retreat during which they reviewed Evidence-Based Practices (EBP) including risk/needs assessments and “Thinking for a Change”.  OAR is currently in a planning phase of “formally” instituting a number of these practices—practices that have been proven to reduce recidivism.

The Board also discussed the organization’s financial situation and the impact that continued losses in funding have had.  Board members talked about the use of social media and developing more formal marketing campaigns.  The Board also rewrote the mission statement to make it more reflective of what OAR does.  The new mission statement is:  OAR enhances public safety by providing individuals and families affected by incarceration with transition services that support safe and successful reintegration into the community.

At the July Board meeting, four members, Bob DeLaney, Rich Johnson, Sean Runyon, and Frank Wood, whose terms had ended were recognized for their combined 50 years of service to OAR.  Board members also voted in a new slate of officers:  President, Ross Patterson, Secretary, Ernestine Gilpin, and Treasurer, Brendan Williamson.  Katie Campbell, outgoing President, who had served in that position for many years, was thanked for her dedication and commitment to OAR.  Katie will continue to serve on the Board. 

Thank You To……

Dennis Beeman, Lauren Boasso, Ryan Cales, Alison Carlin, Ruth & Scott Crawford, Carter Crenshaw, Dan Davidow, Jon Davidow, Adam Paige, Barbara Slayden, Donna Stallings, and Alphonze Taylor who made a donation to OAR through the Boaz & Ruth Long Walk to Freedom; and Erica Abercrombie, Warren Akande, Kimberly Alston, Vanessa Barber, Kirby Battle, Linda Boyce, Patrice Brooks, Leondra Brown-Turner, Steven Carter-Lovejoy, Joyce Fountaine, Anna Gallant, Peter Henry, Travis Hill, Sherry Hoover, Justin Ihara, Ronnie Johnson, Megan Kirkland, Annette Lowe, Freida McNeil, Sherilyn Merritt, Betsy Murphy, Patrice Pollard, Nicole Pries, Crystal Randolph, Sarah Rowe, Mark Rubin, Morgan Salvador, Valencia Short, Nakia Simmons, Krystal Simpson, Barbara Slayden, Cheryl Spell-Adkins, Sabrina Squire, Daphne Steed, Kristi Taylor, Misty Thompson, Calvin Weaver, Brendan Williamson, and several anonymous donors who made a donation during the last Local Government & Schools, Combined Federal, and United Way campaigns; and Kim Hopkins, Brenda Lowry, Henny Schreurs, Barbara Slayden, Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, and Frank Wood who donated gift certificates, money, or other items to OAR since our last newsletter.