Valley State Prison Inmate Family Council 

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INMATE PROGRAMS

MERCED COLLEGE PILOT PROGRAM
FOR INMATES

posted 05-11-2018

VOLUNTEER LEAD CLASSES AND PROGRAMS

1.   STAYING CONNECTED WITH YOUR TEEN PARENTING CLASS

2.   PRISON OF PEACE

3.   FREEDOM TO CHOOSE

4.   DOMESTIC VIOLENCE - VIOLENCE PROGRAM

5.   PEACE EDUCATION PROGRAM

6.   REALIZE - RESTORATIVE JUSTICE

7.   THE URBAN MINISTRY INSTITUTE

8.   STEP OUT APPROVED AND RENEWED

9.   ENGLISH 12-CREATIVE WRITING

10. KAIROS

INNOVATIVE GRANT PROGRAMS

1.   FATHER2CHILD LITERACY PROJECT
2.   CEO OF YOUR LIFE
3.   PRISON INSIGHT PROGRAM

ARTS IN CORRECTION PROGRAMS

1.   STORY CREATION
2.   NATIVE AMERICAN BEADWORK
3.   DJEMBE AFRICAN DRUMMING
4.   SONGWRITING
5.   CHOIR
6.   DRAWING
7.   GUITAR
8.   MURAL

ILTAG/SELF-HELP GROUPS

1.   ALCOHOL ANONYMOUS (AA)
2.   AA/NA RECOVERY AND SUPPORT
3.   ANGER MANAGEMENT "ANGER HURTS"
4.   THE ART OF RECOVERY AND THERAPY
5.   CELEBRATE RECOVERY
6.   CRIMINAL GANGS ANONYMOUS
7.   DOMESTIC VIOLENCE - JOURNEY TO WELLNESS
8.   FREEDOM TO CHOOSE
9.   GAVEL CLUB
10.  LIFE AND BEYOND
11.  M.A.G.I.C. YOUTH OFFENDER SUPPORT GROUP
12.  NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS (NA)
13.  PRISON OF PEACE
14.  SELF-IMAGE, ALIGNMENT, GROUP, GATHERING
15.  SELF-AWARENESS AND RECOVERY
16.  SELF-HELP, AWARENESS AND REHABILITATION
17.  TIMELIST
18.  VALLEY ADULT MUSIC PROGRAM
19.  VerB (BRAILLE)
20.  VETERANS SERVICE DOG PROGRAM
21.  VETERANS SUPPORT GROUP
22.  VICTIM IMPACT
23.  VICTIM OFFENDER - HEALING OTHERS PAIN THROUGH EMPATHY
24.  YOGA SERENITY SOCIETY

OTHER INMATE PROGRAMS


Education:  The VSP Education Department currently offers educational services to the inmate population via two service delivery streams; the Academic Program, the Vocational Program.  At any one time, the Education Department offers educational services to approximately 2,400 of our inmate population.  Education is currently operating under a six year accreditation without a review issued by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (approximately 3% of all schools in the Western United States receive this high a level of accreditation). 


Academic Education Programs:  Six classes for Adult Basic Education I, II, III, and General Education Development (GED) level.


Vocational Programs: Automotive Mechanics, Cosmetology, Electronics, Office Services, Small Engine Repair, Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning, Welding, Electrical Works, Carpentry and Masonry.  


PIA:  PIA employs approximately 215 inmates in three separate operations:  Farm Operation, Eyewear Manufacturing, and Laundry. 


Substance Abuse Program (SAP):  SAP currently provides substance abuse services/counseling to 125 inmates in the Walden House program.  Inmates follow a curriculum that includes education and counseling for substance abuse, domestic violence, anger management, conflict resolution, co-dependency, etc.  This program also includes re-entry planning. 


Health Care Services: The Division of Correctional Health Care Services (DCHCS) at VSP consists of three departments:  Medical, Mental Health and Dental Departments.  VSP provides a range of treatment and rehabilitative services to assist men with emergent issues, alcohol and drug recovery, chronic care issues, preventative services, patient education, health care support, mental health services and dental services.

Other: Religious, Law and Recreational Library.

PROGRAMS OFFERED

Click on the link below for a list of programs offered.  You also will be able to see if milestones are available.

OFFENDER MENTOR CERTIFICATON PROGRAM 

posted 09-27-2017

CENTER FOR COUNCIL

Inmate Council Program is about Strengthening
Communities, Improving Rehabilitative Outcome
A mindfulness-based practice bringing individuals together in a circle with a trained facilitator for candid, heartfelt intentional conversation learning to listen without judgment, talk one-at-a-time speaking from ones personal experience versus opinion.  Fosters a safe and intentional container for individuals to give voice to  their stories and to discover commonality in the experiences and values they share, supporting community, cooperation and well-being.  Councils in prisons has resulted in tangible and meaningful shifts in behavior including collaboration between ethnic groups, inmates being accountable and seeking forgiveness, and approved regulation of impulsive and reactive communication styles, leading to reduced incidents of violence.  In 2012, under Warden Randolph Grounds , Center for Council initiated the "Inmate Council Program,"  Council-based, inmate-training program at Salinas Valley State Prison which trained a cohort of inmates of different races and ethnicities to lead inmate Council-groups on the prison yard.  The program has expanded to 22 CDCR facilities.  Inmates will be recruited from various ethnic groups with 20 initially chosen to participate in ICP as an ILTAG (Inmate Leisure Time Activity Groups.)  It is augmented by a trainer-led 16 hours, two day weekend ICP training workshop and subsequently weekly ILTAG meetings.  Visited monthly by an experienced-council trainer.  Sustainability is through inmate "Train the Trainer" approach.  Inmate Trainer Launch June-July 2017.  ILTAG start up August 2017 - January 2018.  Culminate and evaluation February 2018.

GETTING OUT BY GOING IN (GOGI)

In-Cell Anger Management
Long term grant program meets the unique need for advanced in-cell study for anger management with positive outcomes including:  noticeable culture shift on yards, development of anger management and release preparation skills, increased offender responsibility and pro-social peer associations, development of insight and prison self-report behavioral attitudinal improvements and inmate self-stated increased long term compliance to authority figures.  Provides courses beyond the introductory group for success of the Peer Mentor Program, In-Cell and Small Study Group educational options i.e.:  Anger Management, Release Prep, Parenting and courses addressing deficiencies while increasing compliance to authority figures.  Success results from building upon the firm foundation created by GOGI Introductory Group program.  Address the anger management needs of 300 life term, life without, and/or determinant sentence (earliest release of 10 years.)  Total of six GOGI's 8-week self-study courses via-in-cell (no movement or classroom,) requires up to one year daily study and reflective writing for 30+ minutes a day or  3.5 hours a week, 181 hours academic study a year with a possible completion of six courses.  Benefits...learn to shift personal perspective as well as model positive culture shift to other prisoners.  Long termers often emerge as GOGI Peer Facilitators considered for facilitation expansion.  Sustainability factors:  institutional support; volunteer support; donor funding.  Inmates being recruited through ILTAG, word of mouth with further recruitment to begin after planning meeting via flyers, video and representative meetings.  Goal is to have the program at capacity within 90 days.