CALDWELL - FreeSucceed Mentoring Program

Returning citizens return to prison within 3 years of being released due to a lack of or negative support systems in the community – whether they actively look for it or it finds them. After often years of incarceration, challenges with employment, reconnecting with family and rebuilding relationships, stigma and pressure from society, lack of education, not knowing how to access various community resources, or simply hanging around old friends, can surely spell disaster for someone who wants to change their life and be a positive and productive member of society.

The Free2

Succeed program allows mentors throughout Idaho communities to mentor an individual (mentee) who is close to release from incarceration, or currently on supervision, to community resources that support their transition and reentry. Mentors work closely with facility and probation and parole staff in a team effort to engage the mentee in pro-social and healthy activities. Mentors can help them successfully navigate around and through obstacles and challenges after their release.

Mentors will help them be accountable for their actions, provide emotional support and encouragement, introduce them to positive and pro-social people and groups, may help find employment and education and even appropriate and safe housing. Mentors will complement and enhance the efforts of IDOC staff by being another set of eyes and ears and working in concert with the reentry or recovery plan established by the facility case manager and supervising officer.

IDOC provides a simple way for mentors to get started, relevant training, and an opportunity to help change communities into safer places to live. Join us in the Idaho Department of Correction as an Ameri Corps VISTA and help move the needle by building the capacity and sustainability of the Free2

Succeed Mentoring Program. The VISTA member will not provide direct mentoring or reentry services but will build systems, tools, and resources to support staff and mentors.

• Develop mentor recruitment strategies, workflows, and tracking systems
• Create mentor training curricula and facilitator guides for staff delivery
• Design mentor/mentee matching protocols, documentation tools, and databases
• Develop reentry resource guides and outreach templates for staff use
• Develop reporting templates and documentation templates

• Stipend
• Choice of Education Award or End of Service Stipend
• Education award upon successful completion of service
• Living Allowance
• Childcare assistance if eligible
• Relocation Allowance
• Health Coverage*
• Training

• Permits attendance at school during off hours
• Permits working at another job during off hours
• Car recommended

• Community and Economic Development
• Ex-Offender Reentry
• Community Outreach
• Public Safety
• Homelessness

• Public Speaking
• Non-Profit Management
• General Skills
• Conflict Resolution
• Social Services
• Fund raising/Grant Writing
• Education
• Community Organization
• Team Work
• Leadership
• Communications
• Recruitment
• Veterans
• Computers/Technology