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Date: April 29, 2024 Mon
Time: 10:11 pm
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Results for faith-based organizations
5 results foundAuthor: Hercik, Jeanette Title: Development of a Guide to Resources on Faith-Based Organizations in Criminal Justice - Final Report Summary: In developing a guide to faith-based organizations (FBO's) that have supplied resources to the criminal justice system, this project hoped to assist in the development of a research agenda that will determine whether and under what circumstances FBO's can promote public safety by reducing crime and delinquency. A literature review that examined theory and research on the impact of religion on crime and delinquent behavior found that religion is generally inversely related to delinquency and crime; however, the specific concepts and elements of faith and religion that cultivate positive behaviors have not been clearly identified. A broad-based environmental scan that identified promising faith-based programs that support criminal justice initiatives encompassed national networks, community organizations, and local church congregations. The scan identified a wide range of programs and services being provided by FBO's in order to improve outcomes in the areas of crime prevention, intervention, and aftercare. A research brief examines the evolution of religion's focus on criminal justice concerns, with attention to the theoretical foundation of its involvement, the historical context, prior research, contemporary challenges, and recommendations for future research. The brief concludes that the most methodologically rigorous studies show that religion reduces both minor and serious forms of juvenile delinquency and adult criminality. Future research is recommended. Finally, case studies portray innovative faith-based programs, including the Aleph Institute, Amachi Program, Kairos Horizon Communities in Prison, and the Masjid Al-Islam Da'wah Program. The case studies show that engaging FBO's in collaborative, problem-solving partnerships has the potential to improve outcomes for offenders in general, inmates, ex-inmates, and their families. Details: Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 3, 2012 at https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/209350.pdf Year: 0 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/209350.pdf Shelf Number: 123952 Keywords: Crime Prevention ProgramsFaith-Based OrganizationsVolunteers, Corrections |
Author: Commonwealth Corporation Title: DYS Holyoke Mentoring Pilot Program - Fiscal Year 2009 Report Summary: In fiscal year 2009, Commonwealth Corporation (CommCorp), in partnership with Mass Mentoring Partnership (MMP), brought together DYS and local faith-based organizations – Light of Restoration Ministries and Faith Unlimited, Inc. – in Holyoke, Massachusetts, and implemented a mentoring pilot program that targeted youth in the reentry phase of their commitment to DYS. This approach was based on a positive youth development approach that enables youth, in partnership with the adults working with them, to be active participants in all aspects of their life planning. The Walk in My Shoes mentoring pilot program, as the pilot was named, was managed by CommCorp and focused on providing education and employment-focused mentoring to young people, committed to the care of DYS in the Holyoke area. This program was established to pilot and evaluate a mentoring approach that would have the greatest impact on the lives of DYS clients and respond to their unique strengths and needs. All collaborating partners in this pilot shared a similar perspective and approach to breaking down institutional barriers to assist DYS-involved youth in gaining the key skills and knowledge they need to be productive in their communities and today‟s economy. Through mentoring, the two major goals of the Walk in My Shoes mentoring pilot program were: a) to expand opportunities for DYS youth through exposure to educational and career opportunities, and b) to develop community connections linked to cultivating young people's sense of interest and involvement in the community and in career and future. Using a site-based, group mentoring model, with opportunities for one-to-one mentoring, the pilot initiative aimed to partner 12 adult mentors from the Holyoke community with 12 youth, between the ages of 16-21, all of whom were in the reentry phase of their commitment to DYS. Adult mentors were recruited from the Holyoke community, with a focus on those who shared similar backgrounds and reflected the socio-cultural demographics of the DYS youth involved in the pilot. Based on an evaluation plan that included a pre- and post-survey for mentees and mentors and other sources of feedback, an evaluation team from CommCorp collected data to assess the efficacy of this approach. Both this evaluation data and subsequent recommendations for future mentoring programs for DYS youth are further discussed in this report. Details: Boston, MA: Commonwealth Corporation Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 7, 2012 at http://www.commcorp.org/resources/documents/FY%2009%20DYS%20Mentoring%20Annual%20Report%20Final.pdf Year: 0 Country: United States URL: http://www.commcorp.org/resources/documents/FY%2009%20DYS%20Mentoring%20Annual%20Report%20Final.pdf Shelf Number: 124014 Keywords: Faith-Based OrganizationsJuvenile OffendersMentoringReentry |
Author: Briggs, Stephen Title: Safeguarding Children's Rights: exploring issues of witchcraft and spirit possession in London's African communities Summary: Trust for London created the Safeguarding Children’s Rights initiative to invest in community-based work tackling child abuse linked to beliefs in witchcraft and spirit possession. This is the summary of an independent evaluation, undertaken by the Centre for Social Work Research. Key findings include: 1. Belief in spirit possession and witchcraft is widespread amongst many African communities but current knowledge indicates that the incidence of abuse linked to such beliefs appears to be low; 2. These beliefs occupy a broad spectrum, and the effects range from harmless to harmful. Belief in spirit possession and witchcraft is not of itself evidence of maltreatment; 3. Where there is abuse of children accused of possession or witchcraft, this abuse can be understood using one or more of the four identified forms of child abuse: physical, sexual and emotional abuse and neglect. Assessing for physical and emotional abuse is particularly important; 4. Using the existing child protection framework is effective when assessing cases where children have been accused of witchcraft and spirit possession; 5. Knowledge and understanding of culture and faith is critical to effective assessments of harm undertaken by professionals in this field. However, culture and faith should not be used as an excuse to abuse and must never take precedence over children’s rights; 6. Faith organisations have a critical role in many African communities, where poverty, inequality and lack of access to key resources can impact negatively on children. While many offer help and support, some unscrupulous faith leaders are in a position to exploit vulnerable individuals; 7. Community organisations can be an important source of advice and support to London’s African communities, and may counterbalance the power of some faith organisations; 8. Engaging communities in discussion and debate about human rights can be used as a touchstone for change. The promotion of young people as agents of change is particularly powerful; 9. Community-led approaches to promoting child safeguarding are scarce and have been shown to be critical in engaging socially excluded communities; and in changing attitudes and behaviour; 10. Faith leaders have a pivotal role to play in developing children’s rights within African communities. A shared faith has been very valuable in engaging these leaders – cutting across ethnic and national boundaries; 11. Training has been effective in beginning to address a lack of knowledge of child protection principles and practice among many African faith leaders in London; 12. A broader approach – promoting child safeguarding and well-being – is more effective for engaging communities and churches than a narrow focus on witchcraft and spirit possession. This also led to improvements in wider child protection including through changed practice and disclosures. Details: London: Trust for London, 2011. 78p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 22, 2012 at http://www.trustforlondon.org.uk/Safeguarding%20final%20report.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.trustforlondon.org.uk/Safeguarding%20final%20report.pdf Shelf Number: 124234 Keywords: Child Abuse and Neglect (U.K.)Child ProtectionFaith-Based OrganizationsJuvenile VictimsMinority Communities, AfricanWitchcraft |
Author: Bharadwaj, Priti, ed. Title: Community Participation in Prisons: A civil society perspective Summary: Prison administration in India is still governed by the archaic Prisons Act of 1894. Systemic reforms in prisons in India are long overdue. Defenders of prisoners' rights and those working on prison reforms are few and scattered over various disciplines across India. Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) along with Prayas (Mumbai) realised that though there are several key players in the field of prison reforms across India, there has not been any effort in bringing them together to share their successes or failures, or build a broad lobby group. Concerned over the lack of collective civil society movement to precipitate prison reforms, it was decided to harness and further strengthen existing human resources on prison related issues. This book is an effort to initiate and achieve sustained systemic prison reforms. This one of its kind compendium attempts to document the resource pool of NGOs, faith based groups, and associations like rotary but it does not include individuals or state authorities or those created by the state such as human rights commissions or legal aid bodies It accounts the institutions specific concerns, strategies, capacity building requirements, and achievements on prison reform and prisoner's rights. The compendium describes the factors that have influenced their evolution, patterns of growth, problems and constraints as well as gaps, challenges and opportunities We believe that, identifying the persons/organisations key to engendering change in prisons, and collecting information on their skills and capacities, will not only catalyse change and collaborative action but more importantly create momentum needed to address the ailing Criminal Justice System of India. Details: New Dehli, India: Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, 2008. 258p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 28, 2012 at http://www.humanrightsinitiative.org/publications/prisons/community_participation_in_prisons.pdf Year: 2008 Country: India URL: http://www.humanrightsinitiative.org/publications/prisons/community_participation_in_prisons.pdf Shelf Number: 124303 Keywords: Community ParticipationCorrections Administration (India)Faith-Based OrganizationsHuman RightsNGOsPrison Reform (India) |
Author: Leshnick, Sukey Soukamneuth Title: Evaluation of the Re-Integration of Ex-Offenders (RExO) Program: Interim Report Summary: The Reintegration of Ex-Offenders (RExO) initiative was launched in 2005 as a joint initiative by the Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (ETA) and the Department of Justice. RExO was set up to strengthen urban communities heavily affected by the challenges associated with high numbers of prisoners seeking to re-enter their communities following the completion of their sentences. It does so by funding employment-focused programs that include mentoring and capitalize on the strengths of faith-based and community organizations (FBCOs). In June 2009, ETA contracted with Social Policy Research Associates (SPR), and its subcontractors MDRC and the National Opinion Research Center (NORC), to conduct a random assignment (RA) impact evaluation of the 24 RExO grantees that had been in operation for more than three years. The RA study largely took place during the fifth year of these grantees' operations. A critical component of this evaluation is an implementation study, which includes two rounds of site visits to each of the 24 RExO grantees and alternative providers in their communities. This report summarizes the key findings from this implementation study; including findings on the community context and general structure of the RExO grantees; their recruitment, intake and enrollment strategies; the RA process itself; the services RExO grantees and their partners provide; the specific partnerships in place to provide services; and the services available through alternative providers (to which comparison group members were referred) in the 24 communities. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Labor/ETA, 2012. 167p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 14, 2013 at: http://wdr.doleta.gov/research/FullText_Documents/ETAOP_2012_09.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://wdr.doleta.gov/research/FullText_Documents/ETAOP_2012_09.pdf Shelf Number: 127615 Keywords: Community OrganizationsEx-Offenders, EmploymentFaith-Based OrganizationsOffender Reentry (U.S.)Prisoner ReentryReintegration |