Employment and Disability Institute

2. www.edi.cornell.edu Employment and Disability Institute From Inmate to Citizen – A Research Demonstration Using Person-Centered Practices to Facilitate the Successful Re-Entry of Inmates with Special Needs into Community Membership Roles ARCA Annual Conference November 10, 2007 This presentation is provided through the Department of Correctional Service’s System Change Initiative at Cornell University’s Employment and Disability Institute funded by the New York State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council in collaboration with the New York State Department of Correctional Services and Division of Parole.

3. NYS Department of Corrections:Inmate to Citizen Project Five-year research demonstration at Cornell University’s Employment and Disability Institute to integrate person-centered planning practices into the assessment, treatment and release planning with inmates with disabilities in the Special Needs Units throughout New York State

4. A Little About The Project Five-year project funded by the NYS Developmental Disabilities Planning Council in collaboration with the NYS Division of Parole and NYS Department of Corrections Three Special Needs Units (SNU’s): Sullivan Correctional; Arthur Kill Correctional; and, Wende Correctional Facilities Organizational design technical support, using PATH to plan Training for staff using six-day core curriculum Hands-on technical assistance for implementation with inmates

5. Some Background Information • Approximately 160 inmates in SNU’s • Most have mild MR labels; almost 80% have mental health issues; and, over half have substance/alcoholism labels • Inmates almost NEVER are released at first release date • Almost 40% come back to prison • 2/3 have reading levels below 4th grade, compared to 13% in general prison population • Many have never had formal adult services

6. Types of Crimes SNU’s General Sexual: 33% 7.5% Arson: 2% 0.3% Violent: 74% 55% Drug: 9% 28%

7. Desired OUTCOMES: • Increased community-integrated residential placements post-release • Enhanced community-integrated employment outcomes post-release • Decreased reliance on public benefits post-release • Increased life satisfaction with outcomes attained • Decreased recidivism among prior inmates

8. Important Findingson the impact of PCP training for practitioners working with inmates with special needs: • Pre/post test attitudinal data shows an increase in belief that prior to release inmates should: • experience work release opportunities; • be listened to by personnel; • be provided choices; • include significant others in planning & treatment, including parole and community providers Excerpted from the Tangible Results and Outcomes report Cornell University 2005

9. Beneath the favorite tale of the moment a deeper story always lies waiting to be discovered -Thomas Moore

10. The Argument for SRV The greater the degree of competencies a person is perceived as having, the more deviant the person can be and still be accepted by others. ~ Marc Gold Less Statistically Less Common Common Common NegativelyTypicalHighly ValuedPrevalentValued

11. Person-Centered Planning Hallmarks • The person’s activities, services and supports are based upon his or her dream, interests, preferences and strengths • The person and people important to the person are included in lifestyle planning and have the opportunity to exercise control and make informed decisions • The person has meaningful choices, with decisions based on his or her experiences • The person uses, when possible, natural and community supports

12. Person-Centered Planning Hallmarks • Activities, supports and services foster skill to achieve personal relationships, community inclusion, dignity and respect • The person’s opportunities and experiences are maximized and flexibility is enhanced within existing regulatory and funding constraints • Planning is collaborative, recurring and involves an ongoing commitment to the person • The person is satisfied with his or her activities, supports and services

14. About A Framework for Planning • Developed to help people find focus and direction for planning about their life • A resource to developing a positive profile of people who are often “reputationally impaired” • A tool for identifying capacity and potential for community citizenship contribution • Comprised of 8 distinct areas

15. About A Framework for Planning • Moving through the Framework begins with identifying the positive profile with a person • Weaving back and forth between the Capacities, Values, Interests and Priorities yields solid theme areas that are useful in identifying an avenue for planning • The Framework may make clear what other person-centered tools or methods might be helpful to the person

16. Process Facilitator Makes sure the focus person understands the process and wants to participate; id’s purpose Establishes/sustains group norms and ground rules; safe environment Keeps people on track and focus person at the center Process Recorder Sets up the FFP maps Records information Summarizes group work Helps facilitator keep group focused on purpose Uses graphics, symbols, metaphors; Ensures information is accurate Roles and Responsibilities of Framework Planners

17. Support Team Follows the lead of the focus person Active and positive participation in process Provides meaningful and relevant information Commits to assisting the focus person take action Follows through on commitments Focus Person Understands the process and is interested in participating Identifies a purpose for engaging in the process Completes the FFP work book if necessary Identifies and if possible, invites team members Takes a leadership role Follows through on commitments Roles and Responsibilities of Framework Planners

18. Change enough of the little pictures, and you’ll find you’ve changed the big picture ~ Ashleigh Brilliant

19. Customizing continued… • Challenges to mapping the framework • Attributes/Capacities: inmates may never have experience success or know what they do well • Interests/Preferences: limited knowledge and exposure to things that interest them • Supports: old supports may be negative and inmates may have limited insights as to what they need • Resources: inmates may have limited knowledge as to what is out there

20. Challenges continued… • Community Connectedness: we may have limited knowledge of what is available in the community • Priorities: need to balance “important to” and “important for” • Values/Ideals: difficult to pull out individually…requires you to cull out common themes across all areas • Most important…keep grounded in reality! (don’t be afraid to challenge falsehoods)

21. Questions?

22. Don’t Forget to Visit thePerson-Centered Planning Education Site! www.ilr.cornell.edu/ped/tsal/pcp -or- www.personcenteredplanning.org

23. Carol Blessing &Thomas GoldenEmployment and Disability InstituteCornell UniversityILR School201 ILR Extension BuildingIthaca, New York 14853t. 607.255.7727f. 607.255.2763ilr_edi@cornell.eduwww.edi.cornell.edu