The following news stories from Virginia CARES, Inc. are updated regularly to keep you updated on news within our organization.

Visit CARES on Facebook
CARES Inc. has developed a Facebook page and would like you to join. This is a great way to stay informed of all that’s happening at CARES sites across the state and a great way for participants to stay in touch and add to dialogue surrounding ex-offender issues. Follow this link to join:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Virginia-CARES/128435887166997

Virginia CARES Update
7/29/2011

• Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) funds cut by 77%
• CARES participates in local Anti-Violence and Reentry Forum
• CARES receives level PAPIS Funding
• CARES Fundraiser Planned for September
• Director of Resource Development Moves On

Federal CSBG Dollars Reduced
Due to funding cuts at the federal level, CARES has received significantly less CSBG dollars for the 2011-2012 Fiscal Year. Budget modifications for the current year are underway.  This agency cut will likely result in an overall reduction of operational funding for CARES sites across the Commonwealth.  To offset the impact of this cut on subcontracting sites, the Central Office will absorb a great portion of budget reductions by limiting travel and training costs and by eliminating the Director of Resource Development position until level funding is restored.

CARES participates in Anti-Violence Reentry Forum
Representatives from the Central Office were invited to participate in an Anti-Violence and Reentry Forum with Associate Attorney General Tom Perrelli in Roanoke on June 9th.  The meeting covered community approaches to job development for ex-offenders, collaboration between the Virginia Department of Corrections, Virginia CARES, and community stakeholders, and the cost effectiveness of transitional and recovery programs for returning offenders when juxtaposed with the costs of  incarceration.

CARES receives level PAPIS funding
The Central Office is pleased to announce that CARES’ 2011-2012 Department of Criminal Justice Services PAPIS grant has been approved.  Funding remains level and has not changed from 2010-2011 award amounts.  Contracts are currently under revision and will be distributed to subcontracting sites within the next month.

CARES Fundraiser Planned for September
The Central Office is planning a fundraiser for the month of September.  This fundraiser will be a black tie event and will take place at the Roanoke Civic Center.  The Central Office plans to invite a number of legislators, our state Senators, and the Governor to this event. More details will be provided once this event is finalized.

Director of Resource Development Moves On
Paige Hodges, Director of Resource Development for the Central Office, has accepted a position as Grants and Foundation Officer for Center in the Square in Roanoke.  Her responsibilities will include seeking operational and project funding for Center in the Square and its partner agencies, Opera Roanoke, Mill Mountain Theatre, Harrison Museum of African American Culture, History Museum of Western Virginia, O. Winston Link Museum, Roanoke Ballet Theatre, and the Science Museum of Western Virginia.

 

• Virginia CARES completes SNAPET Plan for Statewide Implementation
• Appalachian Community Fund Announces Grant Award for Virginia CARES
• Job Fair May 19th
• Second Chance Act Adult Mentoring Grant Submitted

Virginia CARES SNAPET Plan Complete
Virginia CARES has collaborated with the Virginia Department of Social Services to develop a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Employment Training (SNAPET) Plan for statewide implementation.  This plan covers how to receive SNAP client referrals from local departments of social services, outlines how case managers will work to devise employment plans, and describes client enrollment in SNAPET program components such as Job Search and Basic Employment Skills Training.  Sites where SNAPET services are currently available include Alexandria Office of Community Services, Office of Human Affairs, Pittsylvania County Community Action, and Total Action Against Poverty-Roanoke.  Sites selected for future SNAPET implementation include Capitol Area Program Uplifting People-Powhatan, Fredericksburg District 21 Probation & Parole, Lynchburg Community Action Group, New River Community Action, PEOPLE, Inc., Total Action Against Poverty-Clifton Forge & Covington, and Support to Eliminate Poverty-Rocky Mount.

Appalachian Community Fund Awards Virginia CARES
Virginia CARES is pleased to announce that funds in the amount of $2,775 have been awarded from the Appalachian Community Fund to support Voter Education and Empowerment in our Appalachian service areas. The program will seek to improve voter turnout, expand grassroots organizing for restoration of rights campaigns, and improve ex-offender civic leadership in Southwest Virginia.

Job Fair May 19, 2011
The Central Office will attend a job fair in partnership with Total Action Against Poverty-VA CARES and Congressman Goodlatte’s office on May 19, 2011.  The job fair will be held at the Roanoke Civic Center from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will host 50 local employers.

Adult Mentoring Grant Submitted
Virginia CARES submitted an Adult Mentoring grant in collaboration with Bland Correctional Center in April.  The grant is part of 2011 Second Chance Act initiatives and was designed to provide fatherhood-focused pre-release and post-release mentoring to incarcerated parents within one year of release at Bland Correctional Center.  If funded, Virginia CARES will be equipped to serve 418 incarcerated fathers over the course of the two-year grant period.

 

 

                                       

The Mission of Virginia CARES is:

To create and maintain a statewide network of ex-offender reentry programs to provide transitional assistance, financial aid, job readiness training, temporary employment, job search and career development, human relations and self-awareness training, and ongoing support services to prisoners, ex-offenders, and their families in Virginia.