Spiritual Survival Guide
7: Surviving Spiritually Beyond Prison
I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11). A group of volunteers from Cook County Jail passed this little acronym along to me after teaching it in their Bible study. P = Plan: Failure to plan means you plan to fail. How do you get to a destination without a map or clear directions? L = Learn: Learn something—anything. Use this time to learn about a field of interest that will help with work or is just good fun. A = Attitude: Attitude is everything; it controls you, your course, and your outcomes. Choose to have a good one. N = No: Say no to anything and everything that is addictive, de- structive, harmful, and cruel. So whether you are prepared for release or not really depends on you. If you are serious about not returning to prison, get start- ed setting goals and writing out your plan to reach them. Don’t wait until you are three weeks out to start this. Tackle first things first. You have just arrived. After you transfer to your permanent facility, you will be able to request to participate in programs, work or education classes. Get started making a list of goals and steps you need to take that will prepare you to reach your God- given potential and destiny.
• Participate in substance abuse treatment classes and mental health courses/counseling. • Participate in religious services and workshops or programs offered at your facility.
• Modify (abate) your child support order if needed.
• Keep in touch with family members weekly. Don’t adopt the attitude that you will set things right when you get out. You can be a good father/husband/son right now if you stay connected. Write. • Obtain your social security card and birth certificate, and any other documents you will need. • Develop a resume. Gather data for job applications: Employers, dates, times, contacts, references. • Practice interviewing for a job. Practice a positive 60-second response to the “felony” question on every application. Memorize that answer; make it short, positive, and powerful. No sob stories. • Work with your case manager to prepare for release. Clear any aliases. • Complete in-prison reentry programs: Lifestyle ReDirect, Job Prep, Track, and Re-entry Summits. • Consider and research finding a positive place to live when released. • If applicable, obtain documents to apply for government benefits needed prior to release. • Learn—master a skill; become a peer facilitator within the system, e.g., HIV awareness.
Common Short-term In-Prison Goals
• Learn a trade or get a marketable skill.
• Participate in education programs. Get your GED or (at some facilities) take college courses.
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