WHAT WE DO
Prepared Place Ministries trains and inspires people -inside and outside of prison - to support the restoration of women affected by incarceration. We equip women, correctional leaders, and volunteers to make prisons more rehabilitative places; we advocate for a more restorative criminal justice system; and we collaborate with churches, nonprofits, and local service providers to support former prisoners, their families and their communities. Our program services make it possible for women to obtain work, housing, and financial literacy; to rebuild their families; and to participate fully in civic life.
CHILL OUT
CHILL OUT Inmate Restorative Program is a service of PPM that makes it possible for women to regain lost hope, rebuild their families, and participate fully in civic life. It is a faith-based mentorship program for female offenders during and after their incarceration that is rooted in teaching the principals of the acronym CHILL OUT... Character, Honesty, Integrity, Loyalty, and Leadership ‒ Operating Under Transition.
CHILL OUT consists of a series of pre- and post-release empowerment workshops that provide the foundation necessary for successful re-establishment in the community. We start with teaching values and character traits that women may not have acquired in childhood, exposing them to new ways to view themselves and the world around them. Then we work on building self-esteem, which has a profound effect on all aspects of life including but not limited to job search, development of goals and action steps, attainment of educational goals, and relationships with family and others. Our workshops culminate in goal-setting activities and practical life skill lessons for self-sufficiency.
GROW OUT
GROW OUT stands for Getting Results Outside of the Walls. When women are released from prison, they face immediate challenges—finding a place to live, food to eat, clothes to wear, transportation, medical care, and job opportunities.
To help make this happen, we assign every woman leaving prison with a Trainsitional Coach. Coaches provide support until women are fully reintegrated into their communites. This includes finding housing, reconnecting with families, securing employment and having access other supportive services.
Some services are provided by our key partners. Impact Services, for example, helps provide women with a free copy of their State ID, a crucial part of reintegrating into society and finding employment. This partnership ensures that women have a smoother transition by being able to enroll in government assistance programs and search for jobs upon release.
Additonally, a partnership with ACCU Staffing, a temporary employment agency, provides access to employment opportunities and job search support.
