The Reentry Navigator (Mentor) Initiative

In keeping with the Prince George’s County and the Reentry Advisory Boards’ recommendations to provide holistic reentry services to empower individuals with resources, and support and to promote successful reintegration into the community, The Denney House, Inc. and Reentry United.org is introducing our Reentry Navigator Initiative.

Needs/Problems to be addressed:

The Reentry Navigator Initiative provides our returning citizen and justice-involved population an opportunity to be paired with a mentor who will help them identify and work towards life goals, navigate through the barriers they will face returning to the community after being incarcerated, and develop pro-social interpersonal and community relationships.

How the Proposed operation will be implemented:

The mentor relationship will begin while the individual is incarcerated through the Pen-mentorship initiative (Mentoring via correspondence) and continue after they are released.

After completing specialized mentor training, Navigators will be paired with a mentee at a local detention or state facility by our Reentry Navigator Coordinator(s). Navigators will be asked to meet with their mentees at least once a week in person or with additional options of communication via phone and e-mail. Mentors will be tasked with assisting their mentees with setting specific, measurable, and achievable life goals.

How requested funds will be used:

The Denney House, Inc Program and Reentry United.org are requesting funds that will pay for 100 persons to attend Certified Volunteer training and Reentry Navigator training provided by Life Empowerment Enterprises to become trained Reentry Navigators for Prince George’s County’s population of returning citizens and justice-involved individuals.

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Number of individuals to be served:

The goal is that at least 100 persons who are returning citizens and/or justice-involved will benefit from having a Reentry Navigator to assist them in navigating through the barriers they will face returning to the community after being incarcerated and develop pro-social interpersonal and community relationships.

 

Who can be a Reentry Navigator (Mentor)?

Those interested in being a Reentry Navigator must meet the following criteria:

• Be at least 21 years old

• Be affiliated with a recognized organization

• Be willing to meet once per week or write at least once a month to your assigned mentee

• Fill out a Reentry Navigator Application and submit to a background check (A past criminal record does not automatically disqualify someone from becoming a Reentry Navigator!)

• Attend Certified Volunteer training and Reentry Navigator training provided by Life Empowerment Enterprises

• Be dedicated to changing lives one person at a time!

New program/ initiative for The Denney House, Inc. Program:

The Reentry Navigator Initiative in Prince George’s County is a new effort that The Denney House Program and Reentry United are undertaking.  It is in keeping with our mission of escorting male and female returning citizens through their transition process to successful productive members of our communities.  Although this is a new project for us, it is a proven successful model elsewhere.

Where is the Reentry Navigator Model available?

The Reentry Navigator model is currently available in several regions:

• Washington DC

• Maryland (i.e. Prince George's County MD)

• Atlanta Ga., etc.

 

Deliverables; objectives; action plans:

The Denney House Program and Reentry United have established partnerships with government and private organizations in Prince George’s County in our efforts to establish a robust transitional housing program. In keeping with our mission of escorting male and female returning citizens through their transition process to successful productive members of our communities, we believe that we have demonstrated the ability to facilitate this Navigator Initiative. Life Empowerment Enterprises is recognized as the leader in this type of training. A Reentry Navigator Coordinator(s) will be identified and responsible for Coordinating with local and state facilities to pair the Navigators with individuals in need.  The success of this project will be measured just as our program is measured, by a decrease in the recidivistic rate of those paired with a Reentry Navigator vs those who are not paired.  

Mentoring Virtually

Increasingly jails, detention centers, and prisons are moving toward providing reentry programming virtually. The Prince George’s County Department of Corrections has purchased tablets for the residents which will allow for mentoring virtually via email. Also, the Prince Georges County Department of Corrections has a contract with Acivilate, the Reentry Pokket App. (https://acivilate.com/ )

 

How does one become a Reentry Navigator (Reentry Mentor)

Those who wish to become a Reentry Navigator will be asked to complete and submit the application/request to The Denney House Program and Reentry United Kdenney@thedenneyhouse.org  / ReentryUnited.org

 

The Denney House Program and Reentry United plan on seeking a contractual agreement, in addition to federal grants in order to be able to sustain this aspect of our program operation.