Voices for a Second Chance

Our Story

Research shows that the more support a prisoner receives and the stronger his or her connection to their family and community remains while incarcerated, the less likely he or she is to reoffend and be re-incarcerated. To that end, Voices provides the following services:

• The First Responder Program provides on the spot practical assistance to people immediately after they are incarcerated. This assistance may include, for example, collection and storage or personal belongings that would otherwise be disposed of by the authorities, or contacting family, employers or attorneys.
• Counseling in the Jails by Voices’ certified social workers is available to any inmate. During the one on one sessions, a counselor may also offer referrals for substance abuse or mental health treatment. The counseling sessions are also geared to preparing the inmate for his or her transition to the community after release.
• Second Chance Transition Support addresses the needs of the returning citizen after release. Such needs may be practical, such as getting a new social security card or drivers license, catching up on tax preparation, clothing and toiletries, transportation tokens, or help finding employment. Voices also offers individual and group therapy to deal with the many issues that might face a returning citizen in his or her transition to freedom. Clients may use Voices services for as long as they choose to be involved with the organization.
• The Family Connection Program focuses on the importance to an inmate and returning citizen of maintaining contact with family and loved ones so that once released, he or she can have a more successful transition to the community. During incarceration, Voices case managers serve as the connection between family and prisoner. Voices also provides support groups for both children of incarcerated parents, and adult family members through its Stanton Elementary School program. Voices also supports the families during the holidays with its Thanksgiving basket and “adopt a family” Christmas events.

Voices does all this with a staff of five full time employees and a handful of volunteers.