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For most people with incarcerated Loved Ones, the day will come when that person will be released from their Correctional Institution.
When this day arrives it would be a good idea to have a plan in place to prepare him/her to reintegrate into society and hopefully help keep them out of trouble.
BUILDING A REALISTIC STRATEGY:
“An individual who does not plan long ahead will find trouble at the door.” Confucius
Start planning your inmate release plan early for his/her eventual release. It seems most people released have little or no inmate release plan of what they will do when they get out.
When it comes to planning we believe it is best to set goals and write them down (for example).
“When I am released from Prison I need to get a job”
This is a great start, but how will you get that job? When will you get that job? What do you need to do to get that job?
It is best to start by outlining the specific job you want and the skills you possess for that job. You can then write a resume to hand out.
Then you will need to locate all the potential places you can work and handout resumes both online and in-person. You may have to send out A LOT of resumes. Soon your goals will become more realistic.
“When I am released from Prison, I will create a resume within 3 days of release. I will pass out at least 20 resumes each day both online and in-person. My goal is to have a job within 14 days.”
Please remember goals are not concrete, you will always need edit the goals. Maybe you need to hand out 50 resumes in a day.
It is also a great idea to have a backup plan. For example:
“If I do not get a job within 14 days I will work at a temp agency.”
Never give up on your goals, keep evaluating your goals until you reach them!
GOALS TO SET:
There are many different types of goals to set. Keeping track of goals in a journal is a good way to organize and revaluate goals. Here are some topics to think about and talk about with your loved one regarding release:
- How to stay away for drugs and alcohol
- How to stay away from troublemaking friends and negative influences
- Where to find help/addiction counselling
- Where to find help for mental illnesses
- How to save money
- How to spend more time with family and friends
- Where to locate support groups
- Locate any programs that need to be taken upon release