http://www.catholicnewcreation.com/blog Restoration and Reconciliation Fri, 05 Sep 2008 20:38:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.3 http://www.catholicnewcreation.com/blog/is-there-really-a-difference-in-transitional-homes-half-way-houses-for-offenders/#comment-11 Darrell Thu, 06 Dec 2007 15:38:33 +0000 http://www.catholicnewcreation.com/blog/is-there-really-a-difference-in-transitional-homes-half-way-houses-for-offenders/#comment-11 I agree with Steven. Love really makes the world go around. Loving one another is sometimes difficult especially when there is conflict in personalities or lifestyle. Perhaps the term "tough love" is needed as situations develop. For pastoral care people, the tough love idea tends to get left for the other guy. It is easier to encourage someone else to handle the "bad guy" role, while the one who feels bad about a situation might bask in the glow of loving one another. It takes a village to raise a child. In the case of living with men or women who have been incarcerated, and without treating him or her as a child, the village is still needed to provide assistance for the transition period.Pray for the village. I agree with Steven. Love really makes the world go around. Loving one another is sometimes difficult especially when there is conflict in personalities or lifestyle. Perhaps the term “tough love” is needed as situations develop. For pastoral care people, the tough love idea tends to get left for the other guy. It is easier to encourage someone else to handle the “bad guy” role, while the one who feels bad about a situation might bask in the glow of loving one another. It takes a village to raise a child. In the case of living with men or women who have been incarcerated, and without treating him or her as a child, the village is still needed to provide assistance for the transition period.Pray for the village.

]]> http://www.catholicnewcreation.com/blog/what-are-the-best-in-prison-rehab-programs-in-the-texas-department-of-criminal-justice-threre-has-been-so-many-cut-backs-that-there-are-so-few/#comment-9 Steven Fri, 16 Nov 2007 19:31:45 +0000 http://www.catholicnewcreation.com/blog/what-are-the-best-in-prison-rehab-programs-in-the-texas-department-of-criminal-justice-threre-has-been-so-many-cut-backs-that-there-are-so-few/#comment-9 Well, the premier program that works in TDCJ is Prison Fellowship Ministry's InnerChange Freedom Initiative. This is an 18-month voluntary program that holistically teaches the offenders how to change themselves from within, provides an outside mentor for transitional support, and provides for the aftercare (after release) needs of the offender. This program is for offenders from the Houston and Dallas areas, but it is the best one out there. Bridges To Life is a great program that brings the offender and victims together so each may see the other's perspective. This is very productive in that it takes away the barrier that allows each side to see the other side and come to terms with what has happened in their lives. This is very life changing. InnerChange has a similar program in Sycamore Tree. These two programs are the best ones that I know of. Well, the premier program that works in TDCJ is Prison Fellowship Ministry’s InnerChange Freedom Initiative. This is an 18-month voluntary program that holistically teaches the offenders how to change themselves from within, provides an outside mentor for transitional support, and provides for the aftercare (after release) needs of the offender. This program is for offenders from the Houston and Dallas areas, but it is the best one out there. Bridges To Life is a great program that brings the offender and victims together so each may see the other’s perspective. This is very productive in that it takes away the barrier that allows each side to see the other side and come to terms with what has happened in their lives. This is very life changing. InnerChange has a similar program in Sycamore Tree. These two programs are the best ones that I know of.

]]> http://www.catholicnewcreation.com/blog/is-there-really-a-difference-in-transitional-homes-half-way-houses-for-offenders/#comment-8 Steven Wed, 14 Nov 2007 18:05:16 +0000 http://www.catholicnewcreation.com/blog/is-there-really-a-difference-in-transitional-homes-half-way-houses-for-offenders/#comment-8 There are a lot of transitional homes out there that really want to help the offenders turn their lives around. I know that Catholic New Creation's Isaiah House in Houston provides you with everything you could possibly need including a mentor, job, financial support, substance abuse classes, a home-like atmosphere, great people, and a place you are proud to call home. Alot of halfway houses are just there to make money, but there are a lot that want to help. There is not such a stigma anymore to go to a halfway house, because more people are getting involved with helping ex-offenders and realizing that most offenders are good people who made bad choices. There are a lot of transitional homes out there that really want to help the offenders turn their lives around. I know that Catholic New Creation’s Isaiah House in Houston provides you with everything you could possibly need including a mentor, job, financial support, substance abuse classes, a home-like atmosphere, great people, and a place you are proud to call home. Alot of halfway houses are just there to make money, but there are a lot that want to help. There is not such a stigma anymore to go to a halfway house, because more people are getting involved with helping ex-offenders and realizing that most offenders are good people who made bad choices.

]]> http://www.catholicnewcreation.com/blog/are-there-liveable-wage-jobs-out-there-for-ex-offenders/#comment-7 Darrell Wed, 07 Nov 2007 14:29:16 +0000 http://www.catholicnewcreation.com/blog/are-there-liveable-wage-jobs-out-there-for-ex-offenders/#comment-7 You are right Steven. I would add that a person may not get the first job that he/she applies for. That is a critical point in the transitional process. I can see how a rejection early on in the job search could create a great deal of discouragement. It is very important that the applicant knows that there is a great job waiting just around the corner. He or she just needs to continue searching. As John says, don't be concerned about the job that was not offered, but continue to look for the job that is waiting for you. Blessings. You are right Steven. I would add that a person may not get the first job that he/she applies for. That is a critical point in the transitional process. I can see how a rejection early on in the job search could create a great deal of discouragement. It is very important that the applicant knows that there is a great job waiting just around the corner. He or she just needs to continue searching. As John says, don’t be concerned about the job that was not offered, but continue to look for the job that is waiting for you. Blessings.

]]> http://www.catholicnewcreation.com/blog/are-there-liveable-wage-jobs-out-there-for-ex-offenders/#comment-6 Steven Wed, 07 Nov 2007 13:58:49 +0000 http://www.catholicnewcreation.com/blog/are-there-liveable-wage-jobs-out-there-for-ex-offenders/#comment-6 There are liveable wage jobs out there; a lot! The prolem we ex-offenders face is that our self-esteem is not up to par and we usually do not sell our talents as well as we should. Most employers get scores of applications and they begin to all look the same after a while. The resume is important in that it must be well presented to get an interview, but the real test comes face-to-face. It is said decisions to hire are made in the first 15 seconds of an interview. We must exude confidence, honesty and determination. Practice the interview before you go and after you go, follow up with the employer with a thank you note. Be a follow up king. Presentation is everything as they say. Be honest, be confident, be humble and be yourself and your chances for a job skyrocket. There are liveable wage jobs out there; a lot! The prolem we ex-offenders face is that our self-esteem is not up to par and we usually do not sell our talents as well as we should. Most employers get scores of applications and they begin to all look the same after a while. The resume is important in that it must be well presented to get an interview, but the real test comes face-to-face. It is said decisions to hire are made in the first 15 seconds of an interview. We must exude confidence, honesty and determination. Practice the interview before you go and after you go, follow up with the employer with a thank you note. Be a follow up king. Presentation is everything as they say. Be honest, be confident, be humble and be yourself and your chances for a job skyrocket.

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