Teach Them to Fish Program_
Ex-offender reentry programs are proven to help recidivism rates among all ex-offenders regardless of sex, race or creed. Many ex-offenders have a very hard time on the outside after serving their sentences. Ex-offenders have difficulties finding jobs, adequate housing or even attaining photo identification. These difficulties lead to more problems and often cause the ex-offender to get into trouble again. Teach Them to Fish Program provides a holistic program that helps men who have been released on parole or probation to begin a successful, productive transition back into society. Everyday things that we might take for granted, such as a getting a driver’s license, are often obstacles for these men.
The purpose of Teach Them to Fish Program is to mitigate these problems to allow the men to concentrate on adjusting to life on the outside. Teach Them to Fish Program offer short term housing to home ownership, job assistance and training and has spiritual and therapy aspects within the program.
Teach Them to Fish Program also allow men to befriend others that are in their same position. This offers a support system that can be helpful and also promotes a team environment. Teach Them to Fish Program is a program designed to reconnect fathers with their children, Sons with their parents and men with Society.
Key Parts of the Program
These are some of the things we help with:
• Obtaining identification
• Getting good health care
• Vocational rehabilitation
• Building or improving family relationships
• Job readiness and training
• Adult basic education
• Life and social skills training
• Counseling services
• Mentoring support
• Spiritual support
Teach Them to Fish Program is a beautiful home in Jackson MS that provides a safe, friendly place for men to live as they enter society after being released from prison. After completing a 90 day program, they are able to start working on their own house, while living in it. The cost of rent for the first year will be their labor. After a year, they will have an option to rent, buy or move on to something else if they choose. Our goal is home ownership and a new life.
Residents' rooms are equipped with comfortable beds, linens, dresser,
air conditioner and a small refrigerator. Washer and dryer are shared by all residents along with two bathrooms and a community kitchen.
Teach Them to Fish Program is not just another halfway house. At Teach Them to Fish Program a new way of living is encouraged in an atmosphere where friendships are made and life changing relationships are developed. In addition, activities, support groups, and courses in interpersonal and social skills help resident members form life-changing relationships and become responsible, productive individuals of the community. We teach them how to help in the household and in the neighborhood. Some of their courses include money management, parenting skills, counseling, interfaith religious services, and more. This experience is complimented by Christian mentors who have a heart for helping these men regain their confidence and self-respect.
Eligibility
• Desire for a new life (willing & open to change)
• Ability to get along with others and follow rules
• Education - All residents must have or be working on obtaining a GED or High School Diploma
• Participate in community service and/or volunteer work
• Attend self-help support or recovery group (AA/NA, Celebrate Recovery, etc)
• Obtain and maintain full-time employment
General Rules
*No Tolerance - Automatic Dismissal*
• No fighting, stealing, carrying weapons
• No smoking inside house
• No visitors or overnight guests
• No alcohol, illegal drugs, or substances
• No selling/bartering/trading
• No cursing, yelling, loud music
Upon arrival residents will receive entire rule requirements
90 Days Quick Start Program
All residents participate in the ‘Quick Start Program’, which is offered typically for 90 days, to our residents. This program is about accountability and independence so that following the program the resident has the best chance to stay substance free. Our men will work for their housing and be required to option a job in the 90 days to cover food and personal items. Our housing sites will be scattered over South Jackson. Residents are provided food in the first phase of the program by our own cooks in our commercial kitchen. Once the resident is employed they become responsible for providing their own food/meals, toiletries and towels. All that is needed to begin is a desire to heal.
In this 90 days we work to get our clients where they need to be. We connect them to social services, help them with SSI applications, work on a housing and employment plan. Success is a two way street and we know our residents success leads to our own. Each resident is afforded individualized one on one staffing weekly (sometimes allot more often) it all is driven by a risk need responsivity assessment that is completed soon after intake into program.
Teach Them to Fish Program management, employees, and volunteers are all dedicated to helping clients in need of employment, by providing guidance, life skills, resume building, and job coaching, along with regular reporting to government agencies. In order to ensure productivity, Teach Them to Fish Program will partnered up with other non-profit organizations (N.P.O.’s), such as New Horizon church International, Stew Pot, The Computer Enhancement Center and other. By doing this, we have the ability to provide daily and monthly bus passes, vouchers for free work boots and shoes, uniforms, certifications, and other work essentials our clients may need, to be successful in our program, and more importantly, in life.
Our Future_
The administration and staff of MaySystems, Inc. poses the implementation of a computer center in the Jackson and other areas of Mississippi. The center will be designed to strengthen and enhance the computer literacy of Mississippi’s underprivileged youth and adults. Our intentions are to create a meaningful linkage between basic computer skills and practical work experiences. MaySystems, Inc. will focus on educational tutoring and serving people as young as ten years old. The center will be geared toward computer literacy, homework help, the enhancement of computer skills, and media capabilities. The benefit of the center to its participants will be to improve computer skills to further advance them in their pursuit of higher education, creating an opportunity for better job placement and better financial status. The results of improving Mississippians’ computers skills will strengthen the state’s educational level, computer literacy level, and aid in lowering the state’s unemployment rate.
MaySystems, Inc. feel that by providing a place where technology is openly available to underprivileged individuals, less-fortunate individuals, or even those who simply needs assistant in learning basic computer applications, we can help close the gap on the “digital divide.” The center set up will be similar to that of our public libraries in which individuals can freely come and utilize the technical resources that we have available. Centers of this caliber are located in the majority of the major cities throughout the United States and other countries abroad. Offering technical assistance of this nature is something that the United States Government support, but we first need the help of our own constituents.