Having a reentry plan is essential to successful reintegration
Reentry plans are essential, which is why California Institution for Women (CIW) and Central California Women’s Facility (CCWF) recently hosted resource fairs. In all, more than 100 providers offered crucial information on housing, education, employment, support services, treatment and more.
(Watch our video. The story continues below.)
Gender-responsive approach
The CIW and CCWF reentry fairs are part of CDCR’s ongoing commitment to provide a gender-responsive approach addressing unique needs of this population. These events assist newly paroled people overcome reentry barriers.
The fairs were organized by:
- CDCR’s Division of Adult Institutions
- Division of Adult Parole Operations
- Division of Rehabilitative Programs
- and community partners.
Working together, they equip incarcerated people with tools to return as productive members of California communities.
Largest reentry fair for CIW
“It’s days like these that make me love my chosen career. Change is possible. I believe in second chances,” CIW Associate Warden Delinia Lewis said.
The theme of the CIW’s event was “falling in love with your future.” It was also the largest reentry resource fair in the institution’s history with more than 1,000 incarcerated people participating.
Kiera Newsom, a representative from the Amity Foundation, is no stranger to the institutions.
“I’m standing right here in the same prison that I paroled from, right? I am back here giving back to the women we care about and love so dearly. (This way,) they can go home and do the same thing,” she said.
CCWF’s event was its first reentry resource fair, helping prepare nearly 2,000 incarcerated people for reintegration into their communities. People from throughout the institution attended, including the Reception Center, General Population, and Enhanced Outpatient Treatment Area.
“This is a time of great pride and of new beginnings. We want to create a way for everyone to seize the many opportunities,” said CCWF acting Warden Anissa De La Cruz. “As we prepare the population to transition to the community, we must give them the vital information needed to succeed. They have the power to make their own destiny, and we have the power to assist.”
Delina Williams, an incarcerated person at CCWF, said fairs like this are helpful for many reasons.
“To come to a resource fair and find people that we don’t even know caring for us, that is what’s important. To show people that we are worthy,” she said.
Story by Mary Xjimenez, Information Officer II
Video by Pedro Calderón Michel, Deputy Press Secretary
Office of Public and Employee Communications
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