In addition to educational programs provided to inmates at the Fairfax Adult Detention Center and Pre-Release Center and the Loudoun County Work Release Center, OAR also provides post-release services to help offenders re-integrate into their communities and successfully find employment, housing, health care, and related services such as mental health and substance abuse treatment if needed.
Services For Offenders
OAR case managers meet with interested individuals and together they develop a needs assessment and service plan for meeting those needs. OAR offers:
- Employment assistance, including resume preparation, employer referrals, and job readiness training. Funds for work uniforms, tools, transportation, and job training scholarships can also be provided.
- Emergency assistance, including food, clothing, and financial assistance with utilities and rent.
- Counseling to help deal with emotional and cognitive effects of incarceration.
- Workshops on topics of interest such as Tax Preparation, Budgeting, Restoring Your Driver’s License, Self-Esteem and Job Interviews, etc.
Families are often challenged by the incarceration of a loved one. They experience a major sense of loss, both practical and emotional. The loss of income can destabilize a family and lead to homelessness. The change in family dynamics can erode the possibility of successful restoration of the inmate in the family unit. Children can suffer significant emotional impairment when a parent or sibling is incarcerated. To address these and other issues, OAR offers family members additional support such as:
- Family Support Group
- School Supplies
- Family Ties
- Stories for Children
- Individual supportive case management and counseling
Outreach to families is particularly important in the first stages of their involvement in the system. Family members often have many questions and little understanding of how the system works. OAR volunteers staff an information desk in the lobby of the ADC specifically to answer questions, disseminate information, and provide sympathetic listening. An important tool is Handling the Crisis, a handbook developed by OAR with detailed information and referral resources for families.
