REENTRY LEADER

HORIZON is a leader in the field of preparing the incarcerated for re-entry into society, sponsoring year-long, faith-based and character-based, residential programs in prisons. Volunteer-led programs, stressing personal and family responsibility, citizenship, education and employability, are under-girded by spiritual growth. Named "A Model for the Future" by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in 2001, Horizon partners with Corrections to insert the nurturing hand of the community into the environment of discipline and direction provided by the institution. Horizon participants complete a Transition Plan which includes housing, medical, employment and transportation resources available in the locale in which they will be living.

Horizon continues to gain experience and accumulate accolades in this uncharted field.

HORIZON OFFERS:

• International recognition

• Programs designed for a variety of security-level prison populations, all aiding re-entry to society

• Programs designed for available space within an institution

• Recruitment and training of volunteers, who facilitate most of the programs

• Work with administration to meet the needs of both the institution and inmate population

• Bring together corrections, other governmental agencies and local resources to secure adequate funding

• Reporting and accountability to funding agents

• Local public relations for the program

• A nationally recognized and approved program

HORIZON'S FIVE TRACK GOALS

Personal Responsibility
Family Responsibility
Education 
Employability
Citizenship

THE FACTS

• Recent research and awards for Horizon projects since 1999 are clear evidence that Horizon communities work to ease the re-entry process. Success has been measured in the betterment of prison environment, family reconciliations, society’s adjustment to the incarcerated, and even the almost intractable recidivism. Secular teachings delivered by volunteers within a faith context work!

• Horizon has limited capacity for expansion without financial sponsorship.

• Horizon is positioned to build better demonstration models designed to meet the needs of an expanding number of inmates being released to society.

ARCHITECTURE OF A HORIZON DEMONSTRATION MODEL

Start a standard Horizon Community in a target prison utilizing free-world mentors, presenting courses in anger management, family reconciliation, victim awareness, dependency recovery, community responsibility and citizenship. Add:

Education

• Average education level of the incarcerated in many state institutions is 7th grade and dropping.

• Encourage coordinated mentoring of identifiable children of program participants via Children of Promise or The Dream Academy-type programs.

Work Skills

• Many who enter prison today have never held a real job other than peddling drugs. Give them confidence they can enter a legitimate work force.

• Require all participants to become acquainted with Microsoft Office procedures and attain at least minimal computer skills.

• Provide as diversified a selection of Industrial Certification Programs as feasible.

Transition

• Cooperate with Ready4Work and/or Labor Line job placement mentoring

• Coordinate transition with program providers under Access To Recovery Voucher Program

• Facilitate connection to "going home" mentors working with Restorative Justice Network of North America.

The Horizon program stresses education in all facets of life, at the academic and psycho-social levels, which Horizon prefers to consider the spiritual and soul levels. It is open to all participants who volunteer to enter the program and are approved to do so by the institution.   See Fact Sheet.