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NEWS FLASH – SIXTY in SIX

Gemeinshaft’s board of directors has launched a major new funding initiative aimed at raising $60,000 over the first six months of 2010. They are contacting supportive members of our community (individuals, businesses, churches, etc.) and asking them to pledge $100 per month (or more) over the next six months to help offset a budget deficit resulting from severe cuts in our state funding. The board needs this six months to allow time for them to restructure and pursue multiple alternative funding sources.

Effectiveness

Gemeinschaft Board of Directors

Gemeinschaft Home’s goal is to return responsible, law-abiding residents to their communities. Gemeinschaft employs case managers at a minimum ratio of one to every sixteen residents. These case managers teach responsibility and skills to residents to help their re-entry into the community.

Gemeinschaft has a collaborative relationship with the Virginia Department of Corrections and its Probation and Parole division in order to ensure successful completion of the residential and aftercare program.

Community-based correctional programs like Gemeinschaft Home offer a less expensive alternative to incarceration while still maintaining close supervision. The annualized cost per individual at Gemeinschaft is $20,020 while it costs the state a minimum of $35,000 per prison inmate yearly, excluding prison construction costs and maintenance expenses. 

Our program is a nationally recognized re-entry program for ex-offenders with a substance abuse background. Funding cuts have forced us to reduce our staff and severely limit the number of beds we can fill. At our peak we had 24 employees and 60 residents. Presently we have 12 employees and less than 40 residents and are struggling to maintain those numbers. Without considerable sacrifices on the part of our loyal staff (who have agreed to stay on at ½ pay in order to keep our doors open) we would probably have closed months ago.

“We are all set to celebrate our 25th anniversary in June, 2010, and we are planning to do it”, said Jennie Amison, Executive Director.

Board members, galvanized by the sacrifice of staff, recently took up an appreciation offering and gave them a small bonus, but our board’s long term goal is to find a way to restore full salaries and fill beds to pre funding cut numbers.

The Board urges all supportive individuals, as well as church and civic groups to consider a 6 month pledge of units of $100 per month, to help Gemeinschaft plan and reach its goal of reasonable staff salaries while restoring and enriching its program. To make your pledge please contact Ruth Stoltzfus Jost at ruthsjost@gmail.com...or use the pay pal link above.

Eligibility

The majority of our residents are referred from therapeutic communities (TC) within the Virginia Department of Corrections. Each case is reviewed individually. Only persons with a nonviolent, nonsexual criminal history and a history of substance abuse are referred to our facility.

Admission preference is given to TC applicants from the Shenandoah Valley and phase II and II TC candidates from correctional facilities with TC programs. 

Services

Gemeinschaft Home operates a 180-day residential program. New residents must sign a contract upon orientation agreeing to abide by the program's behavior code. All residents participate in maintaining the house and grounds and are expected to find and maintain full time employment.

Residents meet with their counselor case managers individually as needed and in groups on a daily basis and all residents continue to participate in a structured, disciplined program aimed at identifying and addressing problem areas.

Programs may include substance abuse counseling, 12-step classes, individual life skills counseling, career counseling, job training, financial management, educational programs, community service, family counseling, random alcohol and drug tests, and spiritual and ethical growth programs.