The Good Samaritan Network

The Good Samaritan Network is a collaboration of non-profit, civic, and faith-based members who agree to provide certain services to individuals who are released from correctional facilities.  Each member will be required to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which spells out the nature of the partnership.  These services may vary depending on location, congregation, and availability.

Faith-based, non-profit, and civic organizations are asked to join in this ground breaking project that will have the potential to help over 5,600 people who leave correctional institutions each year.  Many of them leave with no job, no money, no family, and some without a place to live.  That's why something has to be done.

Ideally, there will be a faith-based, non-profit, or civic organization in each county that will serve as a member in the Good Samaritan Network.  According to Department of Correction statistics, there will be some counties that will require only one member per county due to the lack of returning offenders in their area.  In the case of a heavily populated county, several partnering organizations may be sought to join the network.  When there is only one member per county, this member will serve as a central location for services, with a contact person, as described in the MOU.

The Good Samaritan Network is a simple concept that eliminates the bureaucracy of using government agencies by empowering the local community and faith-based members to fulfill their designed purpose.  Although the services that the Good Samaritan Network provides may be offered by some non-profit organizations or even other faith-based and community members, this approach will allow for consistency across the state.

In 2008, TDOC was granted three full time AmeriCorps Vista members to help further develop the GSN, one in Memphis, Nashville, and Knoxville. Our hope is to expand this network to 40 GSN partners in the next 12 months. This is the way the GSN works.

The Network At Work

The process is as follows:

1. A counselor at a TDOC/CCA institution completes a needs assessment for an offender several months prior to release.  The length of time may vary, but at least 60 days prior to release.

2. The counselor checks the Good Samaritan Network database for the contact or liaison for the county of residence for that offender.

3. The counselor calls the contact or liaison, describes the needs of the offender, and gives some general information about the offender:  name, age, race, address, phone number, date of release, etc.

4. The offender is contacted by the appointed mentor to begin the mentoring process.  Ideally, the mentoring process would begin 12-18 months prior to release.  In certain situations, this is not possible.

5. One week prior to the offenders release date, the counselor calls the county contact or liaison for the offender.  The offender speaks to the contact or liaison about the services needed.  Contact or liaison confirms the services needed and relays information to the offender on the status of the services needed.

6. When the offender is released to the designated county, he/she goes to the Good Samaritan Network member to meet with the contact person or liaison.

7. The offender receives the immediate services that were agreed upon prior to release from the institution.  Ex.) A Good Samaritan basket, job referrals, etc.

The offender will have a higher level of success by not having to worry about starting from scratch.

The Wonders of Networking

The after care process should go as follows:

1. A parole/probation officer at the local Board of Probation & Parole Office discovers or is made aware of several needs that a particular offender has during the scheduled reporting time.

2. The parole/probation officer checks the Good Samaritan Network database for the contact or liaison of a partnering church in the area.

3. The parole/probation officer calls the contact or liaison, describes the needs of the offender, and gives some general information about the offender:  name, age, race, address, phone number, employer, etc.

4. Depending on the services needed, the offender may go to the Good Samaritan Network member to receive the services needed or schedule a date when the services can be delivered.  The contact or liaison also appoints the offender a mentor and alerts the parole/probation officer of the offender's status.

5. At this point, the mentor may assist the offender with gaining employment, finding affordable housing, entering substance abuse/mental health programs when necessary, and obtaining vital records.

6. The mentor will serve as a liaison between the probation/parole officer and the offender, giving a status report to the officer on a regular basis.

7. The offender continues supervision with little or no problems.

The offender will have a higher level of success by having the resources available when needed.

Each Good Samaritan member will be asked to contribute in the following ways:

• Provide emergency food for people with no jobs or who have been working less than two weeks (food box or food vouchers.)

• Provide clothing for those in need.  For example:  clothing for job interviews, and employment as well as recreational clothing are essential.  Starting a clothes closet, or giving by direct donations may answer this need.

• Provide emergency assistance with housing needs.  For example:  paying three months' rent for those recently released from an institution, leaving a hospital, mental institution, or homeless.  Also, the development of boarding homes may help offset cost and allow for savings for some individuals.

• Provide a Good Samaritan basket.  This would include essentials such as toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, a t-shirt and underwear.  These items are often overlooked during the reentry process.

• Provide a mentor for the purpose of spiritual edification and to promote a positive social atmosphere.

• Develop an employment listing by identifying business owners that would be willing to hire qualified individuals regardless of their background for meaningful employment.

• Provide transportation to work for those who do not have an automobile via church van or bus passes, when available.

• Provide life skills, substance abuse, and/or cognitive based programming when or if available.

• To sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), agreeing to provide certain services with statewide consistency in the level of services provided.

If you would like to become a member of the GSN, click here for a printable copy of the MOU.  To send a signed copy of the MOU, fax to (615) 741-1055, Attention Richard Dixon, Director of Volunteer Services or for more information call (615) 741-1000, ext. 8161.