Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) - 1071

Tonight's special guest is Tawana Watson from Cleveland, Ohio. She runs a ReEntry Program where the mission is to help, support and encourage former prisoners lead a more productive life style. They connect former prisoners with the organizations and individuals that will help meet their basic needs. The David Lee Parker and Amy Wickes ReEntry Program assists in financial, educational, employment, health (physical /mental), and recovery areas, as well as with housing and legal needs. "We support by providing mentors on an individual and group forum," writes Tawana. "We encourage by being accessible to listen and help them to discover and aim for reachable goals decreasing recidivism." The ReEntry program connects former prisoners with organizations/individuals that will provide resources to help satisfy the immediate needs of the former prisoners. They also connect mentors former prisoners who will not past judgment but will talk to and help guide the former prisoner on productive avenues of living, providing stable nonthreatening relationships between the mentor and former prisoner. Not everyone is eligible. Candidates must be at least 21 years old, must be able to dedicate a minimum of 8 hours per month, preferably 2 hours per week for face to face time with the assigned former prisoner and must be accessible via phone. They're subjected to a background check and can not have been convicted of a violent felony for 5 years.