 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 17, 2005Talbert House receives largest federal grant in agency’s history
to help ex-offenders re-enter the workforceCINCINNATI—Talbert House is pleased to announce it will receive its largest federal grant to date—$660,000 annually and renewable for up to three years—from the United States Department of Labor’s Prisoner Re-entry Initiative. The program will offer 200 adult non-violent ex-offenders in Hamilton County a full array of services to help them successfully return to the community, including job training, case management, social support and mentoring. Talbert House was the only agency in Ohio to receive these funds.
Studies show that approximately two-thirds of ex-offenders are rearrested within three years of release. “When ex-offenders return to the community, there many barriers to their success,” said Talbert House President Neil Tilow. “With this project, we will address major issues like employment and housing. The goal is to provide support services, such as mentoring and job training, that will lead to stability and ultimately reduce recidivism.”
Talbert House has partnered with local faith-based and community organizations for this program, including the Urban League of Greater Cincinnati, Dress for Success, the Prison Reform Advocacy Center, Allen Temple, Transformation Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, Norcen Behavioral Health Systems, GLAD House, Southwest Ohio Region Workforce Investment Board/Super Jobs, and the Freestore/FoodBank. Participants will be selected for recruitment prior to release through Talbert House’s existing partnerships with Ohio Department of Rehabilitation & Correction (ODRC) and the state’s parole staff.
The program has garnered the support of community groups, including Hamilton County’s Community Mental Health and Alcohol & Drug Addiction Services boards, Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority, Neighborhood Health Care and the Partnership Center, and leaders, including Mayor Charlie Luken, U.S. Congressman Steve Chabot and U.S. Senator Mike DeWine.
“Our prisons must not be revolving doors,” said Senator DeWine, announcing the award on November 8. “We must extend a hand to non-violent offenders so that they can successfully return to society as productive and law-abiding citizens. For nearly 40 years, Talbert House has provided re-entry services to ex-offenders in the Cincinnati area. This grant will help them provide training, resources and hope to even more people. Through work like this, we can reduce recidivism and help recently released offenders overcome the many challenges they face.”
Nearly 550 applications for the national Prisoner Re-Entry Initiative were received, and only 30 were chosen.
“We are very excited that Talbert House was able to bring this caliber of program to Ohio,” said ODRC director, Reginald Wilkinson. ”This program is a win-win for our community and the non-violent offenders being released. By working with these offenders, we help them lead responsible lives and improve the quality of lives for all our residents.”
First proposed in President Bush’s 2004 State of the Union Address, the Prisoner Re-Entry Initiative (PRI) is designed to strengthen urban communities through an employment-centered program that incorporates short-term housing, entering, job training, and other transitional services.
Since 1965, Talbert House’s mission is to be a progressive, multi-service, community-based nonprofit agency. Talbert House serves a broad population and develops and delivers services in mental health, community corrections, substance abuse and welfare-to-work. These services have two basic purposes: to improve social behavior and enhance personal recovery and growth.
# # #
