Bon Secours Community Works "Re-Entry Success" Program

Funded by the Bon Secours Health System Mission Fund, the Bon Secours Community Works Re-Entry Success program is a 12-week training course for ex-offenders designed to address the challenges of reintegration and teach various life skills. The program is modeled after the evidence-based TYRO model created by The Ridge Project in Ohio, which is used by community groups in many states.

Upon finishing the 12-week training, graduates receive a year of comprehensive follow-up services by the Career Development Program team that include personalized coaching; mentoring; peer support; job placement assistance; and assistance with issues and tasks such as transportation, childcare and support, and mental health and substance abuse concerns. Community Works provides certification and occupational training for careers including construction and urban landscaping. Traditional education classes such as GED classes, community college courses, and online classes with reading and math tutoring are also offered. Additionally, services such as housing assistance, credit repair, childcare, tax preparation, parenting classes and expungement assistance are available for program participants through Bon Secours Community Works.

The goal of the program is to empower individuals to look to themselves to support society after life in prison.

The program helps people adjust to life after prison.

Bon Secours offers two “Re-Entry Success” programs, one for men and one for women. Program leadership is working with Dorsey Run Correctional Institution and the Chesapeake Detention Facility to reach prisoners within 3 to 12 months of release to start the program prior to their release date. There are currently 41 prisoners participating in the program.