OPERATIONS
Illinois Department of Corrections FY2010 Annual Report | 16
Women and Family Services - Reunification
Children and families play an important role in the management of offenders in custodial settings. The Women and Family Services Division has created programs to maintain and strengthen family ties, particularly between parents and children. All women facilities offer parenting programs for all levels of offenders. At the Decatur, Dwight, Lincoln and Fox Valley facilities, family activities range from day camps for mothers and children, video visiting programs, storybook programs, summer read programs, 4-H clubs and holiday activities for mothers and children.
The Moms and Babies Program, which held its first anniversary in 2008, is designed to help strengthen the special bond that is critical to a healthy mother and child relationship. The program at Decatur Correctional Center can currently accommodate eight mothers and their babies and is a budget neutral program. The program allows qualified mothers to keep their newborn babies with them and supports the incarcerated mother in developing and nurturing a bond with her infant through effective programming and a safe and supportive living environment. The program also affords the opportunity to build a sound foundation for a strong family structure to continue upon release. Additionally, the division also recognizes the need for unique treatment protocol for pregnant female offenders. Special medical monitoring, treatment protocols, housing options, nutritional plans, and family service counseling are available to this targeted population. The babies receive funding that they would normally be eligible in the free community, such as the Department of Human Services Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program and the All Kids healthcare program. Additional case management services are provided through the Second Chance Act grant for the moms and babies upon reentry into the community.
Volunteers
During Fiscal Year 2010, there was a total of 31,669 volunteer visits: 27,578 were religious volunteer visits and 4,091 were non-religious volunteer visits. Volunteers worked a total of 97,466 volunteer hours: 11,479 non-religious volunteer hours and 85,987 religious volunteer hours. The total number of volunteer hours worked converted into dollars using Points of Light hourly figure total (97,466 X $20.85) equals $2,032,166. The total amount of donations converted into dollars equals $3,125,495. The combined volunteer contributions derived from volunteer hours and donations were $5,157,661 during the 2010 Fiscal Year.
Carter, Crittenden named recipients of IDOC 2010 Volunteer of the Year Award
Gerald Carter at Logan Correctional Center and Chaplain Richard Crittenden at West Side Adult Transition Center were named the recipients of the 2010 Volunteer of the Year Award for IDOC at a recognition ceremony held April 28, 2010, in Springfield. Carter and Crittenden were among volunteers of the state's 28 adult correctional centers and eight adult transition centers, who were being honored for their outstanding leadership and dedicated efforts in providing positive change in the lives of inmates.
At IDOC, volunteers assist in various ways, ranging from mentoring and meeting the religious needs of inmates to offering alcohol and drug rehabilitation such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. Volunteers tutor, hold church services and Bible studies as well as parenting, art, music, poetry and literacy classes.
