VOA Partners with Monroe County on New Program

The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services has awarded a five-year, $1 million grant to Volunteers of America Upstate New York to implement a cognitive behavioral intervention (CBI) program at the Monroe County Correctional Facility (MCF).  The program will serve more than 170 men and women each year using two evidence based CBI’s that have proven successful in reducing recidivism by helping people understand and change their criminal thinking patterns.

The program is designed to help people who are incarcerated overcome past experiences, change thought patterns, accept accountability for their actions and break free from a cycle of behaviors that harm self, loved ones and society. Evidence has shown that Cognitive Behavioral Interventions promote thriving communities by reducing recidivism and providing participants with the opportunity to create a healthier, more vibrant future for themselves and their families.

“This is critical work” says Angela Harbin, VOA’s Regional Vice President of Housing Programs, “because the people we are serving will be released into Monroe County and we want them to be positive, contributing members of our neighborhoods.”

Volunteers of America currently offers the Step by Step program to women at MCF and the Albion Correctional Facility. Step by Step provides women in prison with life skills and parenting workshops to aid in their successful transition back into their homes at the completion of their sentence.

These programs have been proven to lower rates of recidivism by nearly two-thirds and will help those we serve to move towards self-reliance and reach their full potential. To learn more about how we help those who have been or are incarcerated visit our website at https://www.voaupny.org/reentry