Another Chance Project

In our society, we often like to talk about second chances. The reality for most women in prison is that they need a first chance.
TESTIMONIAL

"I met you in 2018 at DCI and you invited me to a group you were facilitating about “self love”. This is where I learned about Narcissism, Abusive Relationships and Human Magnet Syndrome. We had one session, and I never saw you again… until now and Restorative Voices. I am 67 days away from my release date and I feel like God is calling me to reach out to you to learn more about what you already started to teach me. I lived the life for 15 years. I am leaving prison after serving five years and I just don’t want to repeat the same relationship mistakes that got me here.”

       Letter to Dr. Rhonda Smith
       August 25, 2021
       from Jennifer Rice
       Dayton Correctional Institution

OVERVIEW

Another Chance Project, incubated by The Collaboratory, is about women helping unleash the potential of soon-to-be-released and formerly incarcerated women by putting them on the path to professional, personal, and community success.

Since 1980, the number of women in Ohio’s prisons has increased more than eightfold, from 538 in 1978 to nearly 5,000 today. Women have unique life experiences and pathways to crime complicating their chances of successful reentry, including histories of personal abuse, mental illness and substance abuse, economic and social marginality, and troubled relationships. Women leaving prison face multiple tasks as they embark on the process of reestablishing their lives outside prison, including finding housing, getting a job, earning enough money to support themselves, and reconnecting with children and family.

Another Chance Project is designed with the challenges of female inmates in mind, helping women go within themselves and examine their trauma, often the result of domestic violence, emotional abuses and/or addiction, in order to become healed and whole. The program inspires participants to find the courage to overcome their fear of change, be courageous, and live new lives with dignity.

Another Chance Project is committed to reducing recidivism by 1) unleashing the potential of incarcerated women by putting them on the path to personal, professional, and community success pre-release and 2) welcoming and supporting them upon returning to the community to ensure a successful and productive reintegration after release.

Central to Another Chance Project is the incorporation of The Rickter Scale (rickterscale.com), a system which measures individual and programmatic effectiveness for use with pre- and post-release incarcerated individuals. Rickter is User-Centered. Users define their goals and objectives as they relate to education, employment, housing, finances, relationships, etc., developing a plan in conjunction with a case manager or support staff to realize those goals. As a planning tool, Rickter works from a baseline state toward an ideal state as defined by the user.

Our program design is intended for a 24 month period during pre and post release: 


Pre-Release:

• Personal Development focused on Self Love and Trauma, utilizing the Divine Core Curriculum developed by Dr. Rhonda Smith

• Soft Skills Development

• Job or Entrepreneurial Skills Development 

• Educational Opportunities


Post-Release*:

• Another Chance Home

• Linkage to Long Term Housing

• Employment (Social Enterprise) and Employment Connections

• Clothing and Personal Items

• Case Management

• Women Helping Women Allies and Support Network

• Peer Support Network


*Another Chance Project will look to partner with existing resources 

whenever appropriate for reducing costs and/or improving outcomes.


CO-CREATION TEAM MEMBERS

  • Dr. Rhonda Smith. Formerly the Advance Care Health Provider at Dayton Correctional Institute, Dr. Smith is the CEO of Divine Core Transformation and developer of the curriculum that is the backbone of Another Chance Project’s work inside DCI.
  • Dr. Josephine Wilson - Dr. Wilson is a Senior Research Associate at the Substance Abuse Resources and Disability Issues Program at the Boonshoft School of Medicine at Wright State University. Dr. Wilson has been active in the Montgomery County Re-Entry Coalition, chairing the Women in ReEntry subcommittee..
  • Dr. Marcia Weber, Psy.D has had a long career as a mental health professional and currently works an addiction counselor. She was incarcerated from 2014-16, bringing a wealth of professional and lived experience to the co-creation team. Marcia was one of the founders of X FACTOR, a citizen services corps comprised of ex-offenders.
  • Jeanne Porter is a social entrepreneur around issues and opportunities for women. Jeanne founded Women in Business Network, now a program of the Dayton Better Business Bureau. She is also the founder of a new initiative called Women in Christian Leadership, a national organization.
  • Toni Holmes - Formerly incarcerated, Toni is a full-time realtor, motivational speaker and advocate for returning citizens, with a particular interest in addressing safe housing needs.
  • Florence Ransom - Formerly incarcerated, Florence moved to Ohio approximately 18 months ago. In addition to working full-time, she is actively involved in bringing the Bridges to Life prison ministry to southwest Ohio.