News and Stories of Council Archive

Nature Heals. Nature Teaches. Nature Inspires.

10/24/2023

Center for Council joined forces with Wildwoods for a day in nature dedicated to supporting our reentry community and their loved ones.

The weather was perfect as attendees gathered on Saturday, October 21, to experience the beauty of the great outdoors right in the heart of Los Angeles at Vista Hermosa Natural Park. Families participating in our Council Reentry Program were invited to attend and there were activities for both adults and kids. Folks discovered the wonders of the park while exploring ways to reduce stress and enhance wellbeing through the simple joy of being outdoors.

One attendee noted that it was lovely “to see folks who have been out of prison only a short time from very long sentences touch trees, identify plants, sit in stillness and bring awareness to sounds, create art, climb rocks and simply be present with each other.”
Center for Council collaborated with Beacon House, a residential teaching community for 60 men with former lifetime sentences, to arrange for this event to accrue program points, making it possible for residents to gather with their families at the workshop and participate all together.

Another participant noted that it “felt good to be outside and interacting with folks in a safe space.” Others commented that this mindfully facilitated day in nature provided a powerful opportunity to reconnect to one’s inner self and find one’s voice. Reflecting on the value of programming like this, and the restorative power of nature, participants expressed appreciation for the support and care, as they engage in the often overwhelming journey of reentry from years of incarceration... and undertake the task of “relearning” how to be in community.

Los Angeles is the most populous city in California and is host to the largest number of individuals returning from state prisons. There are so many challenges that formerly incarcerated individuals face upon release, including finding housing and employment, the stigma of being an “ex-offender” and the repair and renewal of supportive and healthy relationships with families and friends. Recognizing and overcoming old habits and avoiding reversion to “the criminal mentality” can be an enormous hurdle to overcome when returning to one’s community. The culture in prison is often marked by power and aggression, resulting in adaptive behavior and communication that is inappropriate on the outside and can lead to conflict, harm and even rearrest. Participants in Nature Day reflected that the journey home requires relearning a great deal.

Center for Council’s Council Reentry Program (CRP) addresses the needs of formerly incarcerated individuals who are returning home and are committed to successful reentry. As an evolution of our programs inside 29 California state prisons, this reentry program provides a continuum of care.

CRP supports program participants with a customized approach that offers warm hand-off support services initiated during incarceration, and continues throughout the release and reintegration process with case management, ongoing council sessions for participants and their families, and advanced training in council facilitation for those who have found healing in this practice and want to carry it to their communities.

Wildwoods is a Los Angeles-based organization that provides programming blending natural and social sciences to create memorable experiences, taking lessons learned outdoors and applying them to everyday life. A significant part of Wildwood's work takes place in primary schools, where the organization educates children about water conservation and other environmental issues. Nature Day evolved through discussion between the two partner organizations exploring the desire to provide the reentry community with an opportunity to connect individuals with the natural world as a resources in developing healthy coping methods and self-regulation processes.

Center for Council is excited to build out our work supporting folks on their rehabilitative journey through incarceration, reentry and reintegration, as well as the providers who serve them and the families and communities to which they return. Alongside our powerful Council Reentry Program, we are thrilled to host the newly initiated Los Angeles Reentry Collaborative, which convenes and supports providers of critical reentry services, as well as the greater reentry community.

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Launching the Los Angeles Reentry Collaborative

10/5/2023

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Reentry service providers from across Los Angeles came together for the launch of the Los Angeles Reentry Collaborative Tuesday, marking the first event of its kind in Southern California -- and possibly even the world.

The Los Angeles Reentry Collaborative (LARC) is a network of organizations partnering to promote successful reentry and reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals and reduce recidivism in the Greater Los Angeles area. Launched as an initiative of Center for Council and Beyond Us & Them, LARC supports a wide network of reentry service providers in Los Angeles, as one of 37 Accountable Communities for Health (ACH) funded by a statewide public-private partnership.

The inaugural gathering of the Los Angeles Reentry Collaborative marks a significant milestone in the pursuit of holistic community reintegration. Bringing together professionals from the realms of justice-involved and health domains, this event is a dynamic platform for collaboration and innovation. The day's agenda was powerfully structured, beginning with an engaging brainstorming session aimed at delineating the collaborative's focal points. Attendees were able to collectively chart the course for strategic priorities, harnessing their diverse expertise to shape the future of reentry support.

LARC is about actively identifying needs, and acting on those needs by creating a path forward. Five key points were offered that affect recidivism: physical and mental health care, employment, housing, education and social connection. Did you know that each year in prison is equated with two years less life expectancy? People who are incarcerated are more likely to have high blood pressure, depression, anxiety, etc. While six in ten individuals receive mental healthcare in prison, that number drops to one in ten post-release. Access to healthcare and mental healthcare was highlighted as an area of strategic priority.

Incarcerated folks who participate in post-secondary education are 48% less likely to recidivate compared to those who do not; meanwhile, reentry programs that help build social connection and community connections can lead to a 50% reduction in recidivism. Employment and housing are two focal points where collaboration and trust amongst reentry professionals was also emphasized. An estimated 60% of those leaving prison are unemployed a year later, while homelessness leads to a 50% increase in risk of recidivism. Services are available for those who are recently released, but attendees note that because collaboration is lacking, a database centralized to resource management is needed.

It was also noted that the need for a digital literacy program is tremendous. Oftentimes, men and women reentering society are unaware of the technological advancements of modern day society, and a workshop teaching digital literacy to incarcerated folks on the brink of release would ease reintegration. Discussion ensued around emerging programs to teach digital literacy and conversations were initiated around developing such a program as a function of this collaborative.

But it was the council circles, large and small, that were the cornerstone of the day’s programming, and turned out to be crucial for building trust and relationships amongst folks within the sector. It was acknowledged that mistrust from organizations within the reentry space, and amongst those seeking services from providers, can be a barrier to successful reentry. Attendees agreed that chasing a competitive edge can sometimes deter service providers from collaborating across organizations, while acknowledging that partnership within this space is key.

With a shared commitment to transformative change, attendees explored avenues to amplify their ability to make a positive impact.

This event was an example of how LARC will resource the sector moving forward by creating social connection, building trust and offering opportunities to teambuild across the sector. With quarterly meetings planned over the next two and a half years, this convergence of minds, hearts and missions is poised to stimulate cross-disciplinary insights, foster dynamic partnerships, and fuel the momentum towards a more equitable and effective reentry process.

All those who are passionate about these intersections are cordially invited to contribute their vision and expertise, united by a common goal: to reshape reentry dynamics and empower individuals for a brighter future.

Nature Heals. Nature Teaches. Nature Inspires.

Launching the Los Angeles Reentry Collaborative

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