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The Chicago South Halfway Back Program (HWB) began in 2007 as a 50-bed, 24-hour program for male parolees. The goal of the program is to provide supportive services and address treatment issues with an emphasis on transitioning men back into the community with the skills and coping strategies necessary to be productive citizens.

Program Design

The HWB program establishes individualized reentry plans within a residential setting that identify the parolee’s specific issues and the programs that will adequately address those needs. These programs include, but are not limited to, substance abuse treatment, anger management, cognitive restructuring, family counseling, leisure counseling, money management, employment training, and educational services. Re-entry plans emphasize reintegration services and meeting the conditions of parole requirements as outlined by the parole supervisor and treatment staff. Clients can access programming and services seven days a week with a minimum of 15 treatment hours per person per week.

In addition to these therapeutic components, Safer Foundation has added an employment-centered approach to the program’s design. This approach intends to use employment readiness strategies, including job readiness training, as a tool to engage the clients in a meaningful way in an effort to help regulate their behavior while allowing them to obtain the necessary skills required for obtaining and maintaining gainful employment once they completely reenter society.

In addition to the residential program, HWB also includes a post-release component based on a continuation of service delivery to further promote a seamless transition back into the community. This component provides three main services:

• Aftercare services for clients who may have additional outpatient service needs
• Safer job readiness and training with an assigned retention specialist for job placement and follow-up
• Strategic linkages with Safer’s faith-based programs that offer mentoring for clients with limited to no family support.
  

Program Phases

• Level I: Intake and Assessment: The intake and assessment level is a minimum 30 days and is determined based on whether the client meets individual benchmarks established with the help of his reentry planner and other members of the treatment team.
• Level II: Reentry Readiness: The reentry readiness level comprises a minimum of 40 days and/or the successful completion of the identified benchmarks. During this level, clients enter the employment-centered component.
• Level III: Community Reintegration: The required minimum amount of time for this level is 20 days, with 60 days of follow-up post release.

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