New Creations Community Outreach (TOP) Program

Primary Contact Person: Henry Wells, Church Coordinator
Phone: 313-875-3883
Fax: 313-875-3886
E-mail: newcreations@nccoinc.org

Location:
Postal Address:
PO Box 02938
Detroit MI 48202

How do ex-offenders build a new life after years of incarceration? what connections and supports are vital to one's growth and re-entry into society? In a time when over half of those who walk out of prison walk right back in, New Creations Community Outreach (TOP) Program is striving to stand in the breach to give the help that these people of Metro Detroit need. And when people stay out of prison, everyone can benefit.

Based in part on a study by sociologist emile Durkheim which found that a selected group of Catholics had significantly lower suicide rates than the general population, New Creations believes that what people need to stay out of prison is positive social integration. And there are three main areas that feed into that integration: family cohesion, church integration, and job stability/satisfaction. Originally Durkheim found that these were the three aspects of social integratio that the Catholic group iniquely possessed and thus showed lower rates of suicide. New Creations has taken this strong model and flipped that outcome for the goal of prison recidivism.

Seeking to affect this positive change in a community and in people's lives is not easy. But New Creations has taken the relational dimension of this task to heart. From the complexity of a personal transition plan to the simplicity of a ballroom dance event for spouses and family, this program is thinking and feeling out the best ways to support the lives of those formerly imprisoned. And this is an investment we all can appreciate.

For more information on New Creations Community Outreach visit www.topinc.net.

Target Group(s) of Ministry: Ex-prisoners and their families

Current Needs: Human Resources: GED trainers and facilitators; Educators. Working between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., but more likely in the afternoon. Computer Training — Microsoft Office and e-mail. Teachers for Life Skills Management classes and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Groups.

Most Helpful Attitude from Volunteer: There are no disposable people; the clients at New Creations have something to teach too.

Future: CHAMPS (Children Having a Mind to Pursue Success) — a new program for children of prisoners and ex-prisoners. CAPA (Christian Association for Pirson Aftercare) — a national association providing connections and resources for prison aftercare providers.

Events: National Prisoner Re-Entry Conference 2007, "Healing the Heart, Healing the Community." October 26-28, 2007. Hilton Hotel (Minneapolis, Minnesota). Presented by CAPA and Prison Fellowship Ministries. Register online: http://capaassociation.org/npre-conference_register.htm

Prayer: Finding the right Executive Director (a staff position yet to be filled); funding.