The Pathfinder Network Concludes Successful Reentry Pilot Project in Marion County

PORTLAND, Ore., July 29, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The Pathfinder Network (TPN) recently concluded a pilot project with the Marion County Reentry Initiative, a program of the Marion County Sheriff's Office Community Corrections Division. Built on evidence-based intervention models, the services provided to participants included cognitive-behavioral focused trauma coping skills and cognitive skills programming with a primary goal of reducing criminal activity, increasing pro-social behavior and employability, enhancing pro-social motivation, pro-social support and self-esteem, and motivating clients to embrace a crime free lifestyle. From February through June 2019, over 940 hours of intervention were delivered in both group and individual formats, and the project served a total of 166 men and women housed at the Marion County Transition Center as they prepared for release from prison and jail back into the community. Many of the participants were served as part of the Jail Reentry Program.

"It has been educational and inspiring to work with the Pathfinders team," said Kayla Thompson, a parole and probation officer at Marion County Sheriff's Office who worked in tandem with TPN staff throughout the pilot project. "The coaches have true compassion for the clients, all while challenging their thinking errors and encouraging pro-social behavior, and their trauma-informed approach has been a game-changer for the clients."

The Pathfinder Network's comprehensive continuum of services for the Jail Reentry Program included a combination of evidence-based programs not only to provide participants with tools to prepare for release, but also to establish a space to share and connect with peers. The Free Your Mind cognitive behavioral skills intervention teaches participants the skills needed to achieve greater self-control, satisfaction and purpose in life without illegal behavior. Building Resilience and Healing Trauma, gender-responsive trauma coping skills programming for men and women respectively, works with individuals to explore and move beyond past trauma, regulate emotions and cope with future challenges. As clear highlights of the pilot project, based on high participation rates, Building Resilience and Healing Trauma by Dr. Stephanie Covington represented the first time trauma-specific interventions had been offered at the Marion County Transition Center.

"Out of all of the programs I have done it was Pathfinders that I was able to connect with," shared a graduate of the program. "Through classes like Free Your Mind and Building Resilience I was able to recognize and learn to deal with some of the trauma I have been subjected to, and address the anger that followed the trauma with the understanding and skills to cope with those issues."

In addition to the two group interventions, cohort participants received one-on-one coaching with their TPN facilitators, Kim Gibson and Vashti Young, both trained in the Effective Practices for Community Support for Influencers (EPICS-I) model as well as Motivational Interviewing and Core Correctional Practices. Each cohort celebrated their accomplishments with a graduation ceremony to mark the successful completion of the program and the final step before release. Some program participants also received a unique opportunity to take a beach trip, a testament to the strong partnership between TPN and Marion County staff.

"One of the key principles to working effectively with justice-involved individuals is for the parole officer and treatment provider to work collaboratively," said Pat Schreiner, TPN evidence-based policy advisor. "In my 35 years of experience, the collaboration and teamwork between our facilitators and the Marion County team set the standard on what this work should look like, and tremendously helped the program participants make positive changes as they return to the community."

Since 2005, The Marion County Reentry Initiative (MCRI) has supported successful reentry and prison diversion through a continuum of services to address specific criminogenic needs including pre-release reach-ins, case planning, motivational and cognitive programming, treatment, education, employment services, housing, transportation, and other resource access. Other program contractors The Pathfinder Network worked collaboratively with throughout this pilot project include Bridgeway Recovery Services and De Muniz Community Resource Center.

"We are thankful for the opportunity to have partnered in this impactful pilot and to work alongside one of the best community corrections agencies in the state," added Leticia Longoria-Navarro, associate executive director at The Pathfinder Network. "Thank you to Marion County Sheriff's Office for the incredible work done each day by your agency and amazing staff."

For more information, please visit https://www.thepathfindernetwork.org.

The Pathfinder Network is a 501 (c) (3) social service agency founded in 1993 with a mission to provide justice system-impacted individuals and families the tools and support they need to be safe and thrive in their communities. The Pathfinder Network provides cognitive-behavioral programs, parenting programs, education and support services for pro-social living to adults in the Oregon prison system and to children and families in the community.

SOURCE The Pathfinder Network