WITTS 2008 Report
Women In Transition Through Support Program
Lt. Cynthia Brooks

         The National Women’s Law Center has been working since 1972 to protect the legal rights of women.  The Center’s focal point is on major policies concerning women and their families including fair pay, employment, healthcare, children, education guaranteeing equal rights, and special attention is focused on low-income women.  Poverty is a women’s issue. Over 14 million women –one in eight – live in poverty. Single mothers, women of color, and elderly women are especially vulnerable. More than one in three single mothers, more than one in five African American and Latina women, and one in five elderly women living alone are poor. Several factors contribute to the high rate of poverty among women, including unequal opportunities in education and employment, the high numbers of women who work in jobs that do not provide adequate wages and benefits, the time many women devote to unpaid family care giving, domestic violence and other barriers to employment, insufficient child support, and the recent erosion of many other supports for poor women and their families. (National Women’s Law Center, A Platform for Progress 2008, Building a Better Future for Women and Their Families www.nwlc.org ) 
            The Women In Transition Through Support (W.I.T.T.S.) program was started in 2001.  The program was created in an attempt to decrease conflict/disruptive behavior among the female inmates by offering peer groups in the jail.  Today the W.I.T.T.S. program has expanded to include six groups specifically targeting the unique needs of female inmates, and a continuum of care that supports effective transition to the community by providing discharge planning, linkage and referral, and support upon release.  

Mission Statement     Our mission is to assist women in reuniting with a positive and healthy environment that minimizes the circumstances that lead to their repeated incarceration.  Our focus is to  increase their employment skills, develop positive relationship values and support, elevate their educational level, build self-esteem, control choices through anger management, build strength through drug and alcohol treatment, as well as developing strong family structures.

Goals  Our goal is to reintegrate women and inspire them to be positive and productive citizens  that will decrease the potential for repeated incarceration.                                                                                                                                

            W.I.T.T.S. has been partially funded for 2009. The Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services (OCJS) has provided a grant in the amount of $31,092.  This is an 18% reduction from 2008 funding of $37,740.  Neighboring has provided the 25% cash match for the W.I.T.T.S program.  Neighboring has also agreed to provide the funding of $6648.00 that was cut by OCJS.           

            The variety of groups offered to women in the Lake County Jail include; Peer Support group, Victims of Domestic Violence, Parenting, Community Resource Speaker Series, Yoga, Employment Skills, and Art Therapy. Group participation for W.I.T.T.S. programming has continuously grown over the last several years. In 2008, 296 female inmates participated in W.I.T.T.S. programming, compared to 238 inmates in 2007.  These groups are coordinated by the W.I.T.T.S. Community Liaison, and facilitated by a team of community partners that include domestic violence clinicians, employment specialists, parenting experts, and yoga instructors. Topics addressed include communication, relationship building, discipline without violence, behavior management, teaching children about money, resume writing, and addressing a criminal record with a prospective employer. A number of referrals for the W.I.T.T.S. program are received from the Lake County Municipal, Common Pleas Courts and the Probation Departments.  

            Women involved in any of the W.I.T.T.S. groups are referred to the Community Liaison prior to their release by completing a needs assessment and initiating discharge planning. Staff and clients collaborate to develop individualized discharge plans that address clients needs, preferences for services, work toward client-selected goals, and monitor the implementation of the plan and progress toward goals. The community liaison makes referrals to appropriate community resources, and serves as a client advocate in navigating the various health, education, housing and social service systems.  The community liaison worker meets frequently with each woman in the months following release to provide ongoing support and advocacy, and promoting a successful transition to community living.   

            The “Female Support” group focuses on stress associated with being in jail.  It helps the women deal with problem solving, trust, goal planning, anger management, healthy relationships, mental health issues and many other topics dealing with stress.  The sessions are conducted by Maureen O’Hara of Neighboring on Tuesday mornings and averages 4 women per session with a total of 234 women attending for the year. 

            In a support group, members provide each other with various types of help, usually nonprofessional and nonmaterial, for a particular shared, usually burdensome, characteristic. The help may take the form of providing and evaluating relevant information, relating personal experiences, listening to and accepting others' experiences, providing sympathetic understanding and establishing social networks. A support group may also work to inform the public or engage in advocacy. (www.wikipedia.org) 

            The “Victim’s” Of Domestic Violence class is held on Tuesday afternoon with Joan Boswell from Forbes House (www.forbeshouse.org). The session basically focuses on being a “Victim” and learning how to cope. Topics discussed include safety planning, effects of children, building healthy relationships and the cycle of violence. The group averages 6 women per session with a total of 323 women attending for the year. 

            Domestic abuse, also known as spousal abuse, occurs when one person in an intimate relationship or marriage tries to dominate and control the other person. An abuser doesn’t “play fair.” He or she uses fear, guilt, shame, and intimidation to wear you down and gain complete power over you. He or she may threaten you, hurt you, or hurt those around you. Domestic abuse that includes physical violence is called domestic violence (http://www.helpguide.org/mental/domestic_violence_abuse_types_signs_causes_effects.htm) 

            The “Parenting Class” aides in assisting women with dealing with their children from a new born to adulthood.  The group focuses on setting children up for success as well as trying to become a better parent. The group addresses topics on having healthy relationships with children and coping with stress that can be associated with raising children.  The group meets every other Wednesday and averages 8 women per session with a total attendance of 451 for the year.  The sessions are conducted by Terri Worthington from the Ohio State University Extension.  On the off weeks the “Speakers Series” covers topics such as nutrition, money management, job preparation and resume writing, child custody, housing, education, resume writing and more.           

            In his 2003 State of the Union address, President Bush asked Americans to join the effort to bring compassion into the lives of America’s children of prisoners; “Government will support the training and recruiting of mentors,” he said. “Yet it is the men and women of America who will fill the need. One mentor, one person can change a life forever. And I urge you to be that one person.”  The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) began funding mentoring projects in 2003, granting $8.9 million to 52 programs.  On July 16, 2008, the program celebrated its 100,000th match.  (www.acf.hhs.gov) 

            The “Yoga” class focuses on a healthy mind and body.  The group meets on Thursday and averages 9 women per session with a total attendance of 492 women for the year.  The class is conducted by Anne Ondrey (www.tondrey999@aol.com) and several other women that volunteer their time.  
 

What is Yoga ?

            Yoga originated more than 5000 years in India.  At the heart of traditional Yoga is the search answers to life’s big questions. Answers are within that help us to make sense of our existence. Yoga promotes knowing oneself and increasing consciousness. Ancient Vedic Yoga rituals required inner focus to transcend the ordinary limitations of the mind to combine the physical and spiritual worlds. The ancient texts describe eight yoga “limbs” that develop simultaneously in each person in no particular order, like the limbs of a tree. The process evolves naturally clearing us in our own way. Only two practices were done with conscious intent. The others evolve of their accord. The physical discipline involves body postures and breathing techniques. Though only one small aspect of Yoga, this is what is practiced most and widely referred to as “Yoga” in the United States today. (Julie Barlie,M.Ed & Robert Sigler,C.M.T. http://www.learn-massage-online.com/yoga.htm) 

            The W.I.T.T.S. library continues to be a success at the Lake County Jail. The library was created in 2007 specifically for the female inmates.  Volunteer Dee Trepal runs the W.I.T.T.S. library on a weekly basis. The W.I.T.T.S. Committee receives donations from various community members and agencies.  The books cover a wide array of topics with the majority focusing on self improvement and empowerment. The female inmates of the Lake County Jail will benefit from the generosity of community members for years to come.  

            Art therapy uses the creative process to improve and enhance the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of individuals of all ages. It is based on the belief that the creative process involved in artistic self-expression helps people to resolve conflicts and problems, develop interpersonal skills, manage behavior, reduce stress, increase self-esteem and self-awareness, and achieve insight.  All material is provided by the instructor. 

            The employment workshop titled “Tips for a Better Life” focuses on the basic guidelines for seeking employment. Such topics as how to fill out an application, how to answer tough interview questions, dressing appropriately, and resume writing are some of the topics covered.  This session prepares the women to find employment upon release. 

W.I.T.T.S. After Care program 

            In 2008 the W.I.T.T.S. program completed two 12-week sessions of the W.I.T.T.S. After Care group. W.I.T.T.S. after care is a weekly group held in Painesville and is facilitated by the Community Liaison of W.I.T.T.S. as well as a licensed independent social worker. W.I.T.T.S. after care is an organized group of women who offer support to one another during the challenging transition process back into the community from incarceration. The group is half peer support, half educational and is based on a three month rotating curriculum.  The educational element of the group focuses on life skills (i.e. healthy relationships, coping skills, anger management, self-esteem, etc).  Five women have successfully completed the group in 2008. Three women were court ordered but did not successfully complete the program. Two have since been re-incarcerated and one has gained full time employment, preventing her from attending group sessions. The After Care Group meets every Tuesday 1pm -3pm at Victoria’s Place (Painesville Square).   

After Care Numbers 

Number of W.I.T.T.S. After Care participants: 13
Number of successful completions: 5
Number of women court ordered for W.I.T.T.S. After Care group: 8 and 10 court ordered for W.I.T.T.S. jail groups

 By the numbers:

Number of women the Community Liaison worked with individually in 2008: 78