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How To Become a Volunteer

There are three ways to become a Madison-area Urban Ministry volunteer. You can become volunteer for:

• Circle of Support
• To Mentor a Child with an Incarcerated Parent
• Provide office support staff

CIRCLES OF SUPPORT VOLUNTEER

The Circles of Support Project recruits adults from the community to serve on volunteer teams of 4-5 people that encircle an adult formerly incarcerated in jail or prison and who meets certain criteria. MUM trains, matches, and coordinates these "Circles of Support," made up of four or five volunteers who meet regularly with a newly released former prisoner, for at least six months. Circle work might include explaining the bus system, sharing ideas for jobs, or making referrals for housing. But mostly it is listening to the new neighbor and reducing isolation, while increasing accountability. Former prisoners are called Core Team members (CTM). Volunteers are called Circle members. Circle members also benefit by learning about poverty, racism and the criminal justice system.

WHY DO RECENTLY RELEASED PRISONERS NEED CIRCLES OF SUPPORT?

Understand that as a Circle of Support volunteer you are part of a much-needed and important endeavor. Given the fact that most people who go to prison are eventually released, it is important that communities be prepared to actively participate in efforts to assist returnees in becoming our Neighbors again. Scott (not his real name) was in prison for over six years. Madison-area Urban Ministry (MUM) matched Scott to a Circle of Support within a West-side congregation. The Circle of volunteers met with him regularly. When he got discouraged with unemployment, job layoffs, and even a stint of homelessness, this Circle encouraged him, gave him ideas, and helped him to stay focused. Now it's been two years of success for Scott. He has completed a circle, but not the vicious circle of recidivism.

Instead Scott has joined a Circle of Support himself to "be there" for someone else who was just released. The circle is completing itself. Scott is part of a circle of caring support for another. In communities with similar Circles, recidivism among participating former prisoners has reduced from 50% to 15%. As this is a Restorative Justice initiative, three perspectives are included- those of the community as a whole, those of the victims and those of the former prisoners.

WHICH EX-PRISONERS WILL BE ELIGIBLE for a circle of support: Recently Released Prisoners who may participate in this program and become a Core Team Member (CTM) must:

• be a formerly incarcerated person who requests participation in a Circle
• have been incarcerated at least two years, and
• not been convicted of a serious sex crime or a recent pattern of violent offenses.

Volunteer Circle Members Requirements:

• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Be screened and trained by MUM through its Circles of Support program;
• Be willing to make at least a 6 month commitment to have at least a monthly meeting with the circle
• Be willing and able to become familiar with and remain nonjudgmental about the prisoner and their families.

If you are interested in becoming a Circle of Support Volunteer please email Barbara McKinney, Circle of Support Coordinator.

MENTORING CONNECTIONS-CONNECTS CARING ADULTS WITH CHILDREN OF INCARCERATED

Madison-area Urban Ministry's Mentoring Connections (MC) program provides mentoring services to children who have a parent incarcerated in prison. Madison-area Urban Ministry will recruit, train and guide 70 volunteer mentors in collaboration with faith-based and community-based organizations. A three-year grant from the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (DHHS) assists. There are over 1,600 Dane County children who have a parent in prison. Children of incarcerated parents face health, isolation, attachment and bonding issues. They may also be at risk for going to prison themselves. Seventy percent of incarcerated women are mothers of dependent children. There are disproportionate numbers of people of color in Wisconsin's prisons.

WHY DO CHILDREN OF INCARCERATED NEED CARING ADULT MENTORS?

Joey (not his real name) is one of over 1,600 children in Dane County who has a parent in prison. He is 10 years old and his mother has been incarcerated since he was 6. His father is unable to care for him due to his own instability and history of incarceration. So Joey lives with his paternal grandmother, who is also raising several other grandchildren. Though Joey is bright, he is struggling in school. He worries about his mother in prison, his father on the streets and his loving but elder grandmother. He needs someone to share these feelings with. He needs someone to spend time with and talk to about his life and his future. Grandma is there for him, but he needs more. Joey needs a mentor.

Children of incarcerated parents face health, isolation, attachment and bonding issues. They themselves may be at risk for going to prison. Seventy percent of incarcerated women are mothers of dependent children. There are disproportionate numbers of people of color in Wisconsin's prisons. Three primary partners Madison-area Urban Ministry (MUM) and North East Side Senior Coalition. They will be joined by many other local organizations, including Dane County Human Services, Circuit Court Judges, Urban League of Greater Madison, state and local government agencies, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison who will provide additional training, consultation, referral, and evaluation.

Volunteer Mentors:

1. Must be at least 18 years of age.
2. Be screened and trained by MUM through its Mentoring Connections program to be a Mentor
3. Make a one year commitment to have one-to-one contact at least one hour weekly with their assigned child
4. Participate in some of the monthly group activities organized by MUM through its Mentoring Connections program with their assigned child
5. Be willing and able to become familiar with and remain nonjudgmental about the eligible children and their families
6. In appropriate cases, be willing and able to accompany their assigned child to visit his or her parent in prison.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please contact Lynn Miller, Mentoring Connections Coordinator. Please send applications to Match Support Specialist, Shelia Stubbs.

OFFICE SUPPORT STAFF

Every attempt at introducing and expanding social justice requires information that must be stored, filed, collated, analyzed, transmitted and communicated. MUM needs volunteers willing and able to provide the administrative support our various programs require. Whether entering data records, modifying a database, putting together mailings, answering phones, or any of dozens of other tasks essential to the smooth functioning of an office we have openings and opportunities for you. Whether you are an office generalist and jack of all trades OR have a particular gift and aptitude you want to offer your time and energy for we would love to have your help.

We are looking for F.A.T. volunteers - Faithful, Available, Trainable! FAITHFUL - will you be able to follow through on commitments, schedules and projects you agree to? AVAILABLE - will your personal schedule and energy give you time to help us, ideally on a regular and on-going basis? TRAINABLE - will you be open to feedback, input and on-the-job training for different tasks? If you can say yes to the above, we would love to hear from you. We have various administrative opportunities dependent on your interests, skills and aptitudes.
If you are interested in becoming an office support volunteer please contact Jackie Austin, Prisoner Re-entry Coordinator at Jackie@emum.org.