Hour Children, Inc

Matching incarcerated women with women mentors who will work with the pre and post release. Providing assistance to the returning citizens that will help them transition smoothly while providing job training, job placement, alternative housing, substance abuse counseling and family reunification through our many collaborations. Training mentors to work with the returning citizens as well as building the mentor/mentee relationship prior to release

Quick Facts:

Focus of initiative/program:
  • Mentoring
    • Inititative/program name:
    Hour Woman-to-Woman Mentoring Program
    Year Established:
    2009
    Lead agency/organization name:
    Hour Children
    Population served by initiative/program:
  • Returning from prison
  • Adults
  • Women

    • Hour Children, Inc

    Contact:

    Juliana Robinson
    Director
    Hour Children
    Phone: 718-433-4724
    36-11A 12 Street
    Long Island City, New York 11385
    jrobinson@hourchildren.org

    www.hourchildren.org

    Hour Children, Inc

    Initiatives and Programs

    Focus of initiative/program:
  • Mentoring
    • Inititative/program name:
    Hour Woman-to-Woman Mentoring Program
    Lead agency/organization name:
    Hour Children

    Funding

    Funding sources for initiative/program:
    Federal Funding

    Partners in the reentry initiative/program

    Informal Agreement Formal Agreement
    (e.g., a written contract or an MOU) with this partner.
    Community- and faith-based services providers:
    X
    Education and training providers (e.g., local public school officials, vocational instructors):
    X
    Health, mental health, and substance abuse treatment providers:
    X
    Housing officials:
    X
    Institutional corrections (e.g., DOC, jail, prison):
    X
    Members of the community (e.g., people who have been incarcerated, their families or neighbors):
    X
    Other criminal justice agencies (e.g., prosecutors, judges):
    X
    Transportation providers:
    X
    Work force development and employment agencies (e.g. business associations, unions):
    X

    Participants

    Population served by initiative/program:
  • Returning from prison
  • Adults
  • Women
    • Total number of people who have participated in initiative/program to date:
    30
    Total number of people currently participating in initiative/program:
    30
    Total number of people who can be served at one time:
    45
    If your initiative/program serves people under community corrections supervision, how does your organization work in partnership or work in collaboration with participants’ probation or parole officers?
    We make sure that each woman's parole officer is aware of her participation in our program. We also get the name of each woman's parole officer to ensure that we build an open relationship for the interest of the participants and the public.

    Data Collection

    Does your organization collect demographic data on participants?
    Yes
    If "yes", what kind of data? And what results has this data yielded?
    Upon intake we gather information on what borough in New York City the women will be returning to as well as a phone number to the place of residence if possible.
    Does your organization collect data about the process of your initiative/program?
    Yes
    If "yes", what kind of data? And what results has this data yielded?
    Using software designed for our organization to keep track of all services and programs that the women are attending once released. Also upon intake we ask all women to list the programs that they participated in during incarcerated.
    Does your organization measure and/or track the outcome of participation?
    Yes
    If "yes", what kind of data? And what results has this data yielded?
    Using software designed for our organization we will track all activities of returning citizens as well as any re-arrest.

    Activities

    What, if any, activities does your initiative/program include for people while they are incarcerated and how do these activities differ from those offered to the general population?
    Incarcerated women who are involved in our program will get the opportunity to build relationships with their mentors while they are still incarcerated as well as be involved in meaningful monthly groups which focus on their concerns, needs, and interest. Also personalized attention to the women by the program staff which allows us to address such concerns as visits from their children and/or family.
    What activities does your organization engage in post-release and how do these activities differ from those offered to the general population?
    Aside from the personalized activities that the women will be involved in with their mentors, we will have two yearly gatherings which will included all participants and their mentors.
    How are people placed into your program?
    Participation is based on their approximate release date. We work with women 4-8 months prior to release.
    Explore the Justice Center’s Websites
    CSG Justice Center Criminal Justice / Mental Health Consensus Project Justice Reinvestment National Reentry Resource Center Reentry Policy Council