Re-entry Council Sets Goals for Early 2009

In 2007, Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski created the Governor’s Re-entry Council to discuss barriers people face when transitioning from prison back into the community. While the group has yet to make specific legislative recommendations, the Re-entry Council has developed an action list of items to be achieved by January 2009.

Here are some of the action items the Re-entry Council believes can be achieved in the first month of the New Year: incorporate planning for housing into the DOC’s new discharge planning process; recruit a VISTA volunteer to do in-reach “Ready to Rent” trainings; and provide transitioning prisoners with a verified list of job skills and trainings gained during incarceration to use as an application/resume-building tool with potential employers. Action items also include making every effort possible to ensure that: all people leaving prison have a valid state ID; all people who qualify for Social Security Disability have their Medicaid eligibility established before leaving prison; every person released from prison has a 30-day supply of medication and connection to a health provider in the community who can continue his/her treatment; and people are signed up for the Oregon Prescription Drug Program and that community corrections staff are connected with low-cost medical providers so that people can receive health care after prison.

Source: Governor’s Re-entry Council, August 2008 Work Group Progress Report