By Jenna Moller, Bridgeway Recovery Services
By the end of 2016, Oregon was running out of options. Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in Wilsonville had been running at capacity for more than a year, causing behavioral issues between inmates and putting more stress on the facility than it could bear. To combat this, the Oregon Department of Corrections planned to open another prison. The Oregon legislature encouraged the Corrections Department to find another alternative. "Incarceration on its own hasn't proven to be super successful in reducing recidivism," said Tina Bialas, Behavioral Health Director at Bridgeway Recovery Services. So the department got to work.
On January 30, 2017, the Women's Accelerated Reentry Program was launched by the Marion County Sheriff's Office and Oregon Department of Corrections. Women at Coffee Creek serve up to the last six months of their prison sentence at Marion County Transition Center in Salem. Criteria for selection include being nonviolent offenders; having a history of substance abuse, mental health problems or co-occurring disorders; being within 180 days of their original release date; and releasing to Marion County. Once individuals are identified, they are transferred from Coffee Creek to the Transition Center. This is where the real work starts. Read the full article.
 Women's Accelerated Reentry Program participants take part in an Inspire! class led by community volunteers.
 Since opening in January 2011, the De Muniz Resource
Center has seen a growing number of people come through its doors. “Every day we are helping 40 to 50 people
with everything from finding housing to searching for employment, learning
parenting skills, connecting to pro-social activities, getting legal advice for
civic issues, obtaining health insurance, and accessing a range of community resources,”
said Center Manager April Cox.
In 2016 the Center served a record number, including a sharp
increase in women.
Increasing demands for services
led the Community Action Agency and the Marion County Community Corrections
Division to secure funds for a second Transition Services Navigator. In April,
Jennifer Weldon joined Jack Tally in offering navigator services.
Jennifer is a native Oregonian, mother of five, with a bachelor's
degree in Criminal Justice. She
previously worked with the Oregon Department of Corrections and Polk County
Human Services.
Community Action Agency operates the De Muniz Resource
Center, delivering direct services and engaging other organizations, such as
Northwest Human Services, which provides weekly sessions to help clients sign
up for the Oregon Health Plan, and MaPS Credit Union, which leads financial
management workshops. For more
information, contact April Cox, Transition Services Manager, at april.cox@mwvcaa.org.
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 Marion
County’s Public Safety Coordinating and Justice Reinvestment Councils hosted a
public safety briefing with legislators on February 23. The council adopted a
list of legislative priorities in preparation for the briefing event spanning
from support for Justice Reinvestment and baseline community corrections
funding to safe transportation routes in north Marion County.
Legislative
participants included Senators Ted Ferrioli, Chuck Thomsen, and Anna Braun from
Senator Peter Courtney’s Office who made the event possible in Room 350, and
Representatives Jodi Hack, Teresa Alonso Leon, Rick Lewis, and Bill Post, plus
staff from the offices of Senator Kim Thatcher and Representative Paul
Evans. Council members attending
included Commissioner Janet Carlson, Chair, and Kevin Cameron; Cindy Becker,
Behavioral Care Network; Jayne Downing, Center for Hope & Safety; Faye
Fagel, Juvenile Department; Don Frederickson, Vice Chair, business
representative; Tamra Goettsch, Community
Services Department; Police Chiefs Jim
Ferraris, Jerry Moore, and John Teague; President Julie Huckestein, Chemeketa
Community College; Diane Morse, Marion County Circuit Court Administrator;
Sheriff Jason Myers; and Mike Runyon, Oregon Youth Authority. The
legislative briefing document is found on the PSCC website.
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 The
Inspire! volunteer program is off to a great start! More than a dozen clients participate
in workshops led by community volunteers. These Wednesday evening events are
hosted on the Chemeketa Community College campus in Salem. “Clients really look
forward to it and get a lot out of the sessions,” said parole officer Kayla
Thompson.
Many thanks to volunteers who led workshops in February
and March!
- Ready, Set, Cook! - Setting up a kitchen, nutrition, and
eating healthy on the cheap, presented by Billie Walters
- Fun Fitness! – cardio, weights and stretching, presented
by Janet Carlson
Upcoming workshops include:
- Respect Yourself! - Etiquette, manners, and dress, by
Billie Walters
- Savvy Signing! - Basic American Sign Language, by Kathy
DeMeyer
Interested in offering a workshop? Contact Catherine Trottman at catherinetrottman@gmail.com.
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 Theodore and Janet Urton had a dream to support students
on parole who had a sincere desire to turn around their lives through education
and become worthy, law-abiding citizens. Their new scholarship supports
students attending part- or full-time in any certificate or degree program at
Chemeketa Community College. For more information or to learn how to create a
scholarship opportunity, contact the Chemeketa Foundation at (503) 265-4747, send an
e-mail or drop by their office located on the
Salem Chemeketa campus at 4000 Lancaster Dr. NE, Salem, OR 97305.
Mailing address: PO Box 14007 Salem, OR 97309
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Since January 2017, ARCHES
housing staff have been completing screenings for homeless individuals to
determine eligibility for housing assistance. Bi-monthly screenings are
conducted at the De Muniz Resource Center for Marion County Transition Center
clients. ARCHES staff completes a brief survey using the Vulnerability
Index-Service Prioritization Decision Assistance Tool (VI-SPDAT) to determine
housing assistance eligibility. Survey results indicate acuity and help prioritize
client needs for assistance.
Walk for Hope and Fun Run
On
Saturday, June 10, come walk or run in support of Union Gospel Mission of Salem.
The Walk for Hope & Fun Run 5K begins at 9:30 a.m. at UGM’s Men’s Mission
in downtown Salem, loops around Wallace Marine Park and ends at the Riverfront
Park Pavilion. To register, volunteer, or donate, visit the Walk for Hope website. |
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Calling all superheroes!
 On Saturday, May 13, come walk or run with other
superheroes in the Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency’s 6th
annual Superhero Dash at Salem’s Riverfront Park. Kids, dogs, and Superhero costumes are
welcomed and highly encouraged! Prizes for top three male and female finishers
in all races, and prizes for best dressed male, female, youth male, youth
female, dog, and stroller.
The event features a tent party with kids' activities,
live music by the RiverCity Rock Star Academy, a b2 Taphouse beer garden, food
trucks and an award ceremony as well as a 10k run and 5k run and walk, and
1k Kids' Fun Run. There will also be Superhero characters from the
Portland Superhero Coalition at the event. The after party will
remain open until 2:00 p.m.
To sign-up or donate visit the Superhero Dash website.
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