A. To form a circle of support for families who have love ones incarcerated in jails, prisons, or penal systems. A. To form a circle of support for families who have love ones incarcerated in jails, prisons, or penal systems. B. To encourage one another as they encounter pain, isolation, fear, and anger do to having a love one in prison. B. To encourage one another as they encounter pain, isolation, fear, and anger do to having a love one in prison.

C. To give prisoner’s families an opportunity to share their common experiences and to assist in finding ways to rise above situations. C. To give prisoner’s families an opportunity to share their common experiences and to assist in finding ways to rise above situations. D. To join their voices unto a unified force that might be heard by the prison to effect policy change. D. To join their voices unto a unified force that might be heard by the prison to effect policy change.

E. To seek the spiritual strength needed to them through this crisis in their lives, as well as the lives of others. E. To seek the spiritual strength needed to them through this crisis in their lives, as well as the lives of others.

A. Families believe for everyday that their loved ones are in prison. They are in a prison of their own. A. Families believe for everyday that their loved ones are in prison. They are in a prison of their own. B. They are literally in a separate prison B. They are literally in a separate prison

C. Their prisons are not built of walls and bars, but of loneliness, isolation, fear, anger, social ostracism, and financial burden. C. Their prisons are not built of walls and bars, but of loneliness, isolation, fear, anger, social ostracism, and financial burden.

1. Establish a core group. 1. Establish a core group. A. The individuals of this group will be your steering committee. A. The individuals of this group will be your steering committee. B. The steering committee will make critical decisions regarding how the group will be formed. B. The steering committee will make critical decisions regarding how the group will be formed.

C. The steering committee shall be composed of the sponsoring organization and designated families of inmates. C. The steering committee shall be composed of the sponsoring organization and designated families of inmates. D. The steering committee shall choose a name and design a logo for the support group. D. The steering committee shall choose a name and design a logo for the support group.

2. Find a place to meet. 2. Find a place to meet. A. Choose a central location A. Choose a central location B. Choose a place that will be family friendly, non intrusive, and transportation accessible. B. Choose a place that will be family friendly, non intrusive, and transportation accessible.

3. Your meeting place must have: 3. Your meeting place must have: A. A small comfortable room in which chairs can be placed in a circle. A. A small comfortable room in which chairs can be placed in a circle. B. A large open room in which child care can be offered. B. A large open room in which child care can be offered. C. A rent free place to meet provided by the church or a business. C. A rent free place to meet provided by the church or a business.

4. Choosing a time and day to meet- factors to consider: 4. Choosing a time and day to meet- factors to consider: A. Find out the visitation schedule at the local prison and jail A. Find out the visitation schedule at the local prison and jail B. Don’t schedule meetings in the middle of visitation hours B. Don’t schedule meetings in the middle of visitation hours C. Start all meetings after work hours C. Start all meetings after work hours

D. End all meetings before children bedtimes D. End all meetings before children bedtimes E. A recommended meeting time is 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm E. A recommended meeting time is 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm

5. How often should you meet 5. How often should you meet A. Your support group should plan to meet once a week. A. Your support group should plan to meet once a week. B. If weekly meetings are not feasible, consider meeting once or twice a month. B. If weekly meetings are not feasible, consider meeting once or twice a month. C. The ideal group size is 8-15 people. C. The ideal group size is 8-15 people. D. If the group is much larger, start a second group. D. If the group is much larger, start a second group.

6. Typical Weekly Meeting 6. Typical Weekly Meeting 6:00pm - 6:15pm – Gathering, visiting, and enjoying refreshments. 6:00pm - 6:15pm – Gathering, visiting, and enjoying refreshments.

6:15 – The meeting is called to order when a group member reads the purpose of the group and starts the introduction around the circle. The introduction should include the first name, and why you are here. 6:15 – The meeting is called to order when a group member reads the purpose of the group and starts the introduction around the circle. The introduction should include the first name, and why you are here.

6:20pm – 7:15pm – 6:20pm – 7:15pm – First ask if anyone in the group has a concern or something that they need to discuss. If not, follow the subject on the quarterly program schedule.

7:15pm – Announcements 7:15pm – Announcements 7:20pm – Closing. Each group shall decide how it will close. Invite everyone to join hands together in a circle, including children. 7:20pm – Closing. Each group shall decide how it will close. Invite everyone to join hands together in a circle, including children.

8. Child Care 8. Child Care A. Child is a must A. Child is a must B. Look for volunteers to provide care on meeting nights. B. Look for volunteers to provide care on meeting nights. 9. Transportation 9. Transportation A. Be prepared to offer transportation if needed to families who have no means of transportation. A. Be prepared to offer transportation if needed to families who have no means of transportation. B. Designate a person to be over transportation B. Designate a person to be over transportation

10. Group Coordinator 10. Group Coordinator A. Group coordinator plans and leads the meetings A. Group coordinator plans and leads the meetings B. The leader doesn’t do all the talking B. The leader doesn’t do all the talking C. The leader makes sure that everyone has a chance to be heard C. The leader makes sure that everyone has a chance to be heard

11. Budget 11. Budget A. To cover expenses ( postage, copying, transportation, special trips, etc… A. To cover expenses ( postage, copying, transportation, special trips, etc…

1. I recommend that the steering committee meet every three months to plan the groups program for the upcoming quarter. 1. I recommend that the steering committee meet every three months to plan the groups program for the upcoming quarter.

2. Program Ideas 2. Program Ideas A. Make sure that this is a group project and everyone has an opportunity to participate. A. Make sure that this is a group project and everyone has an opportunity to participate. B. Program ideas and plans are B. Program ideas and plans are

3. Community Support People – Area of responsibility 3. Community Support People – Area of responsibility A. Group Nurture A. Group Nurture B. Community education and relations B. Community education and relations C. Find other community support people to work with other children C. Find other community support people to work with other children D. Help families with program planning D. Help families with program planning E. Fund raising E. Fund raising F. Advocacy F. Advocacy

Community support people are responsible for bringing organizational skills and knowledge to the group. Community support people should never give money to group members. Community support people are responsible for bringing organizational skills and knowledge to the group. Community support people should never give money to group members.

4. Group Facilitator 4. Group Facilitator A. One person should be designated as group facilitator. A. One person should be designated as group facilitator. B. The group facilitator must have good group facilitating skills. B. The group facilitator must have good group facilitating skills.

5. Advocacy 5. Advocacy A. Organize an advocacy committee to develop group advocacy positions that affect inmate families and other visitors. A. Organize an advocacy committee to develop group advocacy positions that affect inmate families and other visitors. B. Any policy developed by the advocacy committee must be agreed upon by everyone, where possible. B. Any policy developed by the advocacy committee must be agreed upon by everyone, where possible.

C. Advocacy empowers the group to work for their own rights and needs.( you may need to bring in attorneys, correctional officials, mental health professionals, to educate the group regarding their rights to the social system). C. Advocacy empowers the group to work for their own rights and needs.( you may need to bring in attorneys, correctional officials, mental health professionals, to educate the group regarding their rights to the social system).

6. Special Events 6. Special Events A. Many families of prisoners are to busy surviving that they rarely do anything for themselves. A. Many families of prisoners are to busy surviving that they rarely do anything for themselves. B. Arrange for social events during or outside of normal meeting times B. Arrange for social events during or outside of normal meeting times

C. Look for free community events such as concerts in the park, museums, free tickets to games or fairs, inexpensive restaurants etc… C. Look for free community events such as concerts in the park, museums, free tickets to games or fairs, inexpensive restaurants etc…

1. Leadership Guidelines 1. Leadership Guidelines A. The steering committee serves as the guiding body of the group. A. The steering committee serves as the guiding body of the group. B. Members of the steering committee should be elected by the membership. B. Members of the steering committee should be elected by the membership.

C. Only committee should serve on the steering committee. C. Only committee should serve on the steering committee. D. Nominations for the steering committee should come from the membership. Nominees must be willing to serve of their names are put on the ballot. Terms of service 1 – 3 years D. Nominations for the steering committee should come from the membership. Nominees must be willing to serve of their names are put on the ballot. Terms of service 1 – 3 years

E. Members should be elected by secret ballot. E. Members should be elected by secret ballot. F. Members who resign from the steering committee must submit a letter of resignation. F. Members who resign from the steering committee must submit a letter of resignation.

G. Any member of the committee who misses two consecutive meetings, may be removed from the office by a majority vote of the steering committee. Any member may be removed for good cause by a majority vote. G. Any member of the committee who misses two consecutive meetings, may be removed from the office by a majority vote of the steering committee. Any member may be removed for good cause by a majority vote.

2. Responsibilities – includes but not limited to the following: 2. Responsibilities – includes but not limited to the following: A. Coordinate programs for weekly meetings A. Coordinate programs for weekly meetings B. Coordinate special events such as retreat’s and mom’s night out B. Coordinate special events such as retreat’s and mom’s night out C. Approve advocacy policies C. Approve advocacy policies D. Coordinate fund raising D. Coordinate fund raising E. Keep group financial records E. Keep group financial records F. Coordinate group development (New Members) F. Coordinate group development (New Members)

G. Coordinate group nurture G. Coordinate group nurture H. Facilitate leadership development (getting everyone involved) H. Facilitate leadership development (getting everyone involved) I. Resolving conflict that may arise in the unit I. Resolving conflict that may arise in the unit

3. Steering committee meetings 3. Steering committee meetings A. Decide where to meet and what time to meet. A. Decide where to meet and what time to meet. B. Decide what makes a forum B. Decide what makes a forum C. Suggest holding quarterly meetings C. Suggest holding quarterly meetings

4. Emergency Vote 4. Emergency Vote A. Voting by phone when a meeting can not be called. A. Voting by phone when a meeting can not be called. B. Any emergency vote should be unanimous B. Any emergency vote should be unanimous

5. Steering Committee Officers 5. Steering Committee Officers A. Coordinator – Responsible for the action of the steering committee, serves as a liaison to the board, notifies steering committee members of meetings, setting agenda for meeting, and facilitates committee meetings. A. Coordinator – Responsible for the action of the steering committee, serves as a liaison to the board, notifies steering committee members of meetings, setting agenda for meeting, and facilitates committee meetings.

B. Secretary – Takes minutes, responsible for all written committee communication, supplies, the editor of the newsletter with group information and files and compile records. B. Secretary – Takes minutes, responsible for all written committee communication, supplies, the editor of the newsletter with group information and files and compile records. C. Treasurer – Maintains group financial records and submits financial reports at each steering committee meeting. C. Treasurer – Maintains group financial records and submits financial reports at each steering committee meeting.

D. Developer – Encourages new members, recruits new members, distributes flyers at local jails and prisons, keeps the secretary abreast of the physical spiritual and emotional status of members. D. Developer – Encourages new members, recruits new members, distributes flyers at local jails and prisons, keeps the secretary abreast of the physical spiritual and emotional status of members.

A. Introduce yourself to the department of corrections, jails and penal institutions in your area. A. Introduce yourself to the department of corrections, jails and penal institutions in your area. B. Send letters to all local wardens, head counselors, volunteer coordinators, and chaplains, enclosing information about your support group. B. Send letters to all local wardens, head counselors, volunteer coordinators, and chaplains, enclosing information about your support group.

C. Contact at least one of the person’s named above at the institution. C. Contact at least one of the person’s named above at the institution. D. Plan to visit your contact and find out how he or she can help you communicate your support availability to families to prisoner’s. D. Plan to visit your contact and find out how he or she can help you communicate your support availability to families to prisoner’s.