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Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
| Hoosier United Methodists together |
September 2005 |
Community worker to assist ex-offenders re-enter society
By Daniel R. Gangler
INDIANAPOLIS - For ex-offenders, there's one thing scarier than being incarcerated as a prisoner - being released from a state prison. With no job, few friends and probably un-payable debts, one out of three ex-offenders returns to prison in Indianapolis.
Attempting to put the brakes on that return rate, the State of Indiana, through new faith-based programs, has initiated ways to help ex-offenders re-enter the mainstream of society. On the average 1,066 ex-offenders are being released from state prisons each month, according to current Indiana Department of Correction's figures.
To assist with the re-entry process, the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries commissioned in June Mary Z. Longstreth, an Indianapolis church and community ministry worker, and assigned her to work with Choices, Inc., a non-profit organization that helps ex-offenders assimilate back into society to become productive citizens. Longstreth began her new duties on July 15. She now serves as part of the Community Reintegration Initiative through Choices. GBGM partially funds Longstreth through a grant to Choices.
Brenda Connelly, executive secretary of the United Methodist Church and Community Ministry Office in New York City, was in Indianapolis this summer and introduced Longstreth to 48 social workers and community leaders participating in a vision workshop at Choices' offices.
The Church Federation of Greater Indianapolis has granted financial support for the visioning process of this new program. The plan will give direction to CCM's faith and community based collaboration to serve the needs of adults being released from state prisons.
Matching congregations to inmates
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"Released individuals are created in the image of God. Released individuals are part of the team." - Mary Z. Longstreth |
Longstreth is a clinically licensed social worker, who has served varied at risk populations in several states through The United Methodist Church professional Deaconess and Diaconal Ministries and chaplain work. She previous served the church as chaplain at the Damien Center, which ministers to people affected by the HIV/AIDS virus in Indianapolis.
Longstreth told Together, "released individuals are created in the image of God. Released individuals are part of the team."
According to Connelly, Longstreth will be tracking churches (and other faith groups) to make matches between a congregation and a particular inmate soon to be released. In this process, "churches need to be listeners. They need to change perceptions of people (about ex-offenders) and provide strength, abilities, hopes and dreams," she said.
Developing covenant
Longstreth will be recruiting and working with United Methodist and other congregations. Each congregation entering the Community Reintegration Initiative program will adopt a prison inmate four to six months prior to being released.
The inmate and a congregational team will work together to develop a covenant and an action plan so that upon release, the inmate steps into a network of people of faith rather than literally hitting the streets, as too often happens now.
According to the CRI program, congregations will take the responsibility for helping these released individuals secure employment and permanent housing, as well as strengthening ties to their families and community.
Training and ongoing support for churches will be provided through Longstreth as the CCM worker.
For more information and to invite Longstreth to speak to your church or community group in the South Indiana Conference, contact her by e-mail at mlongstreth@choicesteam.org or by phone call 317-205-8255. She is the only assigned United Methodist Church and Community Worker in the South Indiana Conference.
Last updated on 25 Apr 2008