Ready, Willing and Able

The Doe Fund’s Ready, Willing and Able (RWA) program is a proven prisoner reentry program that helps newly released parolees permanently break the cycle of incarceration. In addition to the paid transitional work at the heart of the program, RWA also provides comprehensive social and educational services; safe, secure, drug-free housing (to those who would otherwise become homeless upon release); drug testing and counseling; vocational training; job prep and placement services; and lifetime graduate assistance.

Quick Facts:

Focus of initiative/program:
  • Employment/Job Training
  • Housing
  • Mentoring
  • Substance Abuse
    • Inititative/program name:
    Ready, Willing and Able
    Year Established:
    1990
    Lead agency/organization name:
    The Doe Fund
    Population served by initiative/program:
  • Returning from local jails
  • Returning from prison
  • Not under community corrections supervision
  • Under community corrections supervision (parole or probation)
  • Adults
  • Men
  • Women
  • People convicted of a violent offense
  • People convicted of a non-violent offense
  • Gang members

    • Ready, Willing and Able

    Contact:

    Charlene Fletcher
    Director of Criminal Justice Programs
    The Doe Fund
    Phone: 646.672.4273
    345 E. 102nd Street, 3rd Floor
    New York, NY 10029
    cfletcher@doe.org

    www.doe.org

    Ready, Willing and Able

    Initiatives and Programs

    Focus of initiative/program:
  • Employment/Job Training
  • Housing
  • Mentoring
  • Substance Abuse
    • Inititative/program name:
    Ready, Willing and Able
    Lead agency/organization name:
    The Doe Fund

    Funding

    Funding sources for initiative/program:
    Government, Private, and Earned Revenue

    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
    Law enforcement agencies (e.g., police, sheriff's office):
    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 local jails
  • Returning from prison
  • Not under community corrections supervision
  • Under community corrections supervision (parole or probation)
  • Adults
  • Men
  • Women
  • People convicted of a violent offense
  • People convicted of a non-violent offense
  • Gang members
    • Total number of people who have participated in initiative/program to date:
    More than 4,500 graduates
    Total number of people currently participating in initiative/program:
    700
    Total number of people who can be served at one time:
    700
    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?
    The overwhelming majority of RWA's criminal justice program population is under community corrections supervision. RWA obtains releases from participants allowing them to share information with parole and probation officers, with whom the program works closely. In fact, specific officers are typically assigned to each RWA facility where a substantial number of individuals under supervision are served. RWA case managers are in regular communication with these officers to ensure that program participants are in compliance with the conditions of their release (which usually are far exceeded by program requirements).

    Data Collection

    Does your organization collect demographic data on participants?
    Yes
    If "yes", what kind of data? And what results has this data yielded?
    As a part of its extensive intake process, RWA collects demographic data across more than 20 dimensions, including: age, race, ethnicity, gender, substance abuse history, criminal history, history of homelessness, family information, education, work history and military history, among other areas. All collected data is entered into a custom Client Tracking Database (CTDB) which captures key data, including progress towards and achievement of goals as detailed below. RWA uses CTDB data to generate monthly "dashboard" reports, which monitor outcomes, track aggregate data (including demographics), evaluate program efficacy and inform any necessary changes. Demographic data has revealed a detailed snapshot of the RWA population: RACE: 70% African-American 24% Hispanic 5% Caucasian 0.2% Asian AGE: Average age: 38.5 FAMILY: Average number of children: 1.1 69% with children under 18 (of those with children) 10% married (including common law) CRIMINAL HISTORY: 41% with 1 or more violent crimes Average number of felonies: 2.3 Average time served (years): 7.5 SUBSTANCE ABUSE: 85% report substance abuse history Average length of abuse (years): 17.2 97% tried to stop before EDUCATION: 15% have a low literacy (below 5th grade) 46% with no GED or H.S. diploma
    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?
    Progress toward targets (in all areas, including service delivery, connections to treatment, and outcomes as described below) are measured for each period, ongoing, and cumulatively. All statistics are kept each month for a "rolling" 12 months, a continuous snapshot of the prior 12 months in addition to the calendar year. The Dashboard is reviewed monthly by senior management to monitor achievement of goals and track various indicators of progress towards independent living, such as services delivered, education received, and training provided. Executive staff meet at least quarterly to review program achievements and discuss if adjustments should be made.
    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?
    As part of the CTDB and Dashboard processes described above, RWA tracks multiple outcomes that include job placement and retention; housing placement and retention; enrollment in and completion of educational and occupational programs; substance abuse relapse; involvement with the criminal justice system; and child support payments. Most recently, CTDB data was analyzed independently by one of the world's leading authorities on criminal justice and recidivism, noted Harvard's Dr. Bruce Western. Western compared RWA participants and graduates to matched control groups of other NYC parolees, and found that RWA reduces recidivism by up to 60% (within three years after release from incarceration). A more detailed executive summary is attached.

    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?
    Many participants are referred by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (and its multiple agencies), and others are referred by individual parole and probation officers. In addition, RWA staff performs recruitment activities at Queensboro State Correctional Facility, the pre-release facility for parolees about to be released into NYC. Inmates attend information sessions (performed by RWA staff), and those who ask for more information str given extensive information on program components and expectations through a series of pre-release interviews (also performed by RWA staff). Those who agree to the terms and conditions of the program sign a "contract," which lays out mutual responsibilities and gives new participants an idea of what to expect.
    What activities does your organization engage in post-release and how do these activities differ from those offered to the general population?
    RWA provides formerly incarcerated individuals with paid work and training; safe, secure, drug-free housing; job counseling and placement services; individualized case management; sobriety through mandatory drug testing and intensive relapse prevention; and lifetime graduate support.

    For those new parolees who already have approved housing, the innovative non-residential Ready, Willing and Able–Day (RWA-Day) program provides services to parolees while they reside in supervised housing in the community.

    For residential participants, services begin when they are picked up at the prison gate on the day of their release and brought to the RWA facility. The services described in the program overview are provided over the course of the next 9-12 months (6-9 months for non-residential clients), while the general population of releasees struggles to find similar services.
    How are people placed into your program?
    Referral
    Explore the Justice Center’s Websites
    CSG Justice Center Criminal Justice / Mental Health Consensus Project Justice Reinvestment National Reentry Resource Center Reentry Policy Council