Volunteer Opportunity Details:

The California Reentry Program at San Quentin State Prison is an independent advising program that seeks to cover a wide array of future-parolees’ needs. Our services include academic advising, referrals to housing resources, job advice/placement, child-support issues, support groups, etc. We provide one-on-one counseling with inmates who are paroling within the next few weeks, months and years. They come to us with questions about their future in regards to education, housing requests, employment and other issues, and it's our job to assess their current needs, experience and interests, and support them in establishing a plan to achieve their goals once paroled. Volunteers are needed to go to San Quentin for about three hours once a week. This time is used to meet new clients and assess their needs and to give returning clients information from the previous week or take their new requests. Typically, we'll see 40-50 prisoners per evening, two evenings per week. Many of the men want to know how to get their GEDs, some want an Associate of Arts degree, others have questions about what it might take to open a hot dog stand or start a new career. We also help fill out college/financial aid applications.

We are looking for highly reliable people to assist as Pre-release Advisors, who come in once a week, meet with the prisoners, and research their requests. Excellent experience for aspiring social workers, educators, counselors, and law students. Fun, challenging, and truly inspirational. We are looking for at least a 6-month commitment but prefer a 1-year commitment. Time commitment per week: approximately 3 hours on site, plus 1-3 hours of research.

Right now we need advisors on either Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

We also have a parole clothing program in which we send street clothes to our client that they can wear out of the prison instead of paying for gray sweat suits. We need help collecting donations, sorting the clothing, making up packages and mailing them to the prison (you will be reimbursed).

In order to volunteer inside the prison, you will be required to attend two 2-hour orientation/training sessions. One is a prison rules orientation, will cover rules and regulations inside the prison and the other is a the training orientation, will cover job duties and resources. We usually hold each training session about once a month. Please contact us for more details at volunteer@ca-reentry.org.

www.ca-reentry.org

Must be 21 or over to volunteer inside the prison. Volunteers must submit a resume and attend four hours of training. Volunteers must also submit data for a background check which usually takes up to two weeks to process.

This opportunity is sponsored by: California Reentry Program

We need volunteers who are free at these times Evenings Tuesday Thursday This volunteer opportunity is available to the following types of volunteers Adults (26-54) Individual Adults (55+)

Contact Person: Volunteer Coordinator, Volunteer Coordinator, (email) View all agency contacts

Address:

1 San Quentin San Quentin, CA 94964 (See a map)

Directions:

From the East Bay, take 580 West, take the San Quentin Exit (the first exit after you cross the Richmond Bridge), make a left at the stop sign at the end of the off-ramp, and continue through San Quentin Village to the East Gate. From San Francisco take the Golden Gate bridge/101 North to the Richmond Bridge/580 East exit (just past the Lucky Drive exit), stay right and drive through Larkspur Landing, past the ferry terminal on your right. Follow the road to 580 East, but stay in the right "exit only" lane which is the San Quentin Exit (the last exit before you cross the Richmond Bridge); make a right at the stop sign at the end of the off-ramp, and continue through San Quentin Village to the East Gate. Park at the Visitor Parking lot down the hill to the left before you reach the East Gate.   Nearest Bus Stop: Golden Gate Transit 42 to 580 at San Quentin, 5 minute walk

Web Site: http://www.ca-reentry.org

Last updated on December 18, 2009