initiatives
R3
Area: Reentry following treatment or incarceration
Description: A state-wide collaboration of Christian based recovery and reentry groups cooperating for the purpose of reducing the high rate of relapse and recidivism. This partnership provides a hub for communication, which facilitates improved services delivered throughout the network. This partnership will work to identify best practices and service gaps for the purpose of strengthening and supporting ministry initiatives common to all. Utilizing a well-established and renowned “Circle of Success” operating model, the partnership will deepen impact in areas of: mentor guidance, safe housing, spiritual guidance, substance abuse rehabilitation, employment assistance, life skills development, healthy leisure and social activity, and service to others.
Approach/Solution:
R3’s vision is to be a group of Christian ministries who are working together to transform and heal the broken lives impacted by incarceration and addiction.
Currently there are over 55 recovery and reentry ministries which have expressed an interest in collaboration via their participation in monthly networking meetings and the 2006 and 2007 “Recovery Celebration” events. This partnership has also established an Executive Committee consisting of 11 acknowledged leaders, representing various ministries within the Circle of Success. The partnership goals for 2008 and 2009 focus on providing networking opportunities, informational tools, and facilitating greater access to a broad range of reentry and recovery services.
The Twin Cities Christian Foundation will provide capacity building tools for the Executive Committee, thereby helping them to facilitate the exchange of information between agencies, build stronger relationships, identify and leverage best practices, develop key measurements, and implement a pilot project focused on mentoring and coordinated care. The Steering committee looks to leverage these partnerships and utilize its deep distribution network for the benefit of all participating ministries and agencies.
Through collaboration, we believe individuals coming out of treatment and incarceration will be better served. Efforts of R3 will focus on streamlining communication, reducing duplication between ministry partners, training ministries in best practices, and improving overall delivery of services for its clients. The intended outcomes will be a measureable improvement in the quality of overall services provided within each area of the Circle of Success as well as across the whole delivery system. We believe this will result in an overall reduction in the recidivism rate and an increase in sustained recovery for the clients that are served.
Partners:
Lead Organizations
AlphaCitiCorps
Montage Marketing
Construction Career Training Program
Prison Fellowship
Executive Ministries
Twin Cities Christian Foundation
Governor’s Council on Faith and Community Services
The Prayer Center
Metro Hope Ministries
The Salvation Army
Minnesota Teen Challenge
Participating Agencies
Currently there are 65 agencies and over 145 members participating in the MN Christian Collaborative. It is anticipated that approximately 20 additional agencies will connect to this partnership in 2008.
Projected Outcomes:
- Strengthen and build the Executive Committee through further definition of 2008 and 2009 initiatives, and strategies for accomplishing each.
- Provide monthly networking opportunities for partnering ministries through informal and formal meetings, speakers, and sponsored events.
- Develop on-line tools (web site) for the communication of ministry services available, partnership membership information, best practice information, and statistical reporting for benchmarking purposes.
- Identify “Champions” who will continue to strengthen and build capacity for participating ministries within each of the Circle of Success functional areas.
- Create a strategic plan for how to develop and implement “best practices” in each area of the Circle of Success available.
- Launch a pilot program designed to enhance the care coordination provided to clients who are coming out of incarceration and treatment.
Staff:
Beth Leaf - Partnership Director
Brian Dejewski - Executive Director, Community Partnerships
Sarah Trenda - Manager of Partner Relations
Executive Committee:
Lee Buckley - Office of the Governor, Special Advisor on Faith and Community Service
Ken Ehling - Montage Marketing, President
Steve Erickson - AlphaCitiCorps, Executive Director
Beth Leaf - MN Christian Collaborative, Partnership Director
Bob Mader- Prison Fellowship, Executive Director
Randy Mortenson - Executive Ministries, President
Dave Ophaug - The Salvation Army, Director of Business Development
Doug Samuelson - Minnesota Teen Challenge, Aftercare Director
Jariland Spence - Williams The Prayer Center, President
Dave Stricker - Construction Career Training Program, Executive Director
Dan Ward - Metro Hope Ministries, Executive Director
Advisory Board:
Jay Bennett - Twin Cities Christian Foundation, Chief Executive Officer
Mary Coleman - Twin Cities Christian Foundation, Director of Prayer Support
Brian Dejewski - Twin Cities Christian Foundation, Director of Capacity Building
How you can help:
Financial Assistance
R3 is currently funded through generous individuals and donor advised funds. Increased assistance for planning and operational start up, as well as on-going financial assistance, is needed for the collaborative effort to move forward. In addition, grants and foundations will be pursued to fund project related costs as well as on-going overhead expenses.
In-Kind Giving
R3 is seeking talented individuals who can volunteer their time and skills in the area of web development and data base design.
Experts in recovery and re-entry who can share best practice information, provide training opportunities, act as a guest speaker, or host large group meetings are also needed.
Prayer Support
R3 believes that prayer support is an essential ministry tool and asks for your participation through prayer.
< Return to Initiative Descriptions |
