Ensuring the formerly incarcerated leave prison WELL

The incarcerated live in a community of health hazards. Insufficient medical care, exposure to infectious disease, and lack of treatment for substance abuse and mental illness are common. Thousands of inmates soon to be released are vulnerable to one or more of these threats. DLF’s Church Prison Collaborative Director James Reed manages the Faith-Based Dormitory at Hutchins State Jail. He teamed up with Charles Senteio, founder and CEO of Namamai, a health services company that provides health training and consultation for vulnerable populations, to educate inmates about health risks and prepare them to reenter society on a wellness regimen.

“In the FBD we offer spiritual and practical strategies on how to make good overall choices, including those related to health, with the goal that inmates will return to society and become all that God has called them to be,” James said. Collaborative partners like Charles, a business owner and advocate for those incarcerated, understand James’s overarching goal of seeing the men adopt a healthy lifestyle that includes developing strong relationships, receiving ongoing treatment, and establishing a strong spiritual foundation.

“I think a focus on building relationships, addressing addiction and its drivers, as well as developing a spiritual foundation that provides guidance and direction, are far more beneficial, and needed, for this population,” Charles explained.
“I think a focus on building relationships, addressing addiction and its
drivers, as well as developing a spiritual foundation that provides guidance
and direction and what is needed for this population,” Charles explained.

The implications of substandard healthcare for the incarcerated extend far beyond the confines of prison. Typically, those previously incarcerated have difficulty obtaining public housing, and gaining access to employment opportunities. They also face tremendous barriers integrating into their families. Poor health is just an added burden on a former inmate whose chance of recidivism stands at an alarming 65 percent. Moreover, when unhealthy inmates leave prison in huge numbers, they pose a health threat to their communities when they return:

The National Commission on Correctional Health Care says that: “…Tens of thousands of inmates are being released into the community every year with undiagnosed or untreated communicable disease, chronic disease and mental illness.” (Source:  http://www.ncchc.org/pubs/pubs.)

As part of the FBD at Hutchins, Charles facilitates a health care informational group about wellness on a pro bono basis. Each 6 session class, which lasts about 90 minutes and meets twice per month, has between 15-20 students where they focus on issues surrounding their mental, physical, and spiritual status.  “The health class focuses on transformation, the core objective of the FBD program,” Charles said. “Inmates have numerous concerns about various health issues and topics addressed such as genetic predisposition for addiction and cancer, to what the prostate is and its function.  The class has enabled the men to share their concerns and obtain helpful information, while accommodating various levels of education and health literacy. The class has had students who have not completed the seventh grade and another who graduated from medical school.”

The hazards for the incarcerated, and those they return to, are real in and out of prison. It’s good to know that God is using advocates like James Reed and Charles Senteio to make a difference.  Inmates are being transformed before they leave prison, and returning to society as new men. These are men who are eternally connected to Christ, and who know how to live well for Him in the meantime.

Grandparents raising children a second time

Dallas Leadership Foundation has served families in need since 1997 through our annual Treasures of Hope Christmas Store. Approximately 25 percent of those served are grandparents raising children a second time. Over the years, grandparents have become caretakers of their grandchildren at an alarming rate:

“Over the past five years, the number of grandparents raising grandchildren has increased across the state. Texas grandparents are primary caretakers for 356,410 children under age 18, according to 2009 U.S. census data – more than in any other state.

The statewide trend mirrors a national increase, which began in the early 2000s. Nationwide, one child in 10 lives in the same household as a grandparent, according to the Pew Research Center. Of those children, 41 percent are being raised primarily by a grandparent.” – Melissa Repko, Dallas Morning News*

Grandparents are under increased financial pressure as primary caregivers because they try to make ends meet on fixed incomes. Pressure to maintain ongoing living expenses and costs associated with school age children are being felt by seniors who normally would be enjoying retirement. As a result, some seniors are leaving retirement and returning to the workforce. Others who are unable to do so depend on assistance from community organizations such as DLF.

As in previous years, DLF will offer relief to seniors through Treasures of Hope Dec. 9–15, 2010. Please help us lighten the load for grandparents by becoming a financial partner of Treasures of Hope. We also encourage you to volunteer your time by working at the store. You can register directly on our website: dlftx.org.

* – http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/101610dnbusgrandparents.24b11bd.html

The fight for inner city youth is on!

Dallas Leadership Foundation (DLF) is proud to announce the opening of its’ Ring of Hope Boxing Club (ROHBC) in East Dallas. An official Grand Opening/Ribbon Cutting Ceremony will be held on October 15^th from 11:30 a.m. -1:30 p.m. at 1703 Alpine Street, Dallas, TX  75223.

Dallas Leadership Foundation is advancing its’ outreach to urban youth by launching the ROHBC. The project is innovative and the only one of its’ kind in Dallas. Functioning under DLF’s umbrella and managed by professional trainers, the project combines competitive boxing, physical fitness, and instruction on moral living from qualified mentors in equal proportions.

During a time when a lot of attention is being given to wellness and healthy living, the ROHBC will promote overall health and fitness among youth utilizing the sport of boxing. Boxing has major health benefits unlike any other sport. Individuals undergoing boxing training will receive an excellent cardiovascular workout using aerobic movements resulting in weight loss and improved physique. Boxers will also benefit cognitively from trainers teaching them how to judge their opponents next move and strategize their reactions.

Using the ROHBC, DLF will counteract negative pressures facing youth living in the inner city. Emphasis will be placed on teens coming from areas known to have high crime rates, gang activity, visible drug traffic, low High School graduation rates, and a high percentage of single-parent households are encouraged to participate. Located in East Dallas, the gym is accessible and within walking distance of three of DLF’s eight target neighborhoods.

Demographically, the area contains a number of low-income residents and a sizable Latino population. For this reason, and based on the following statistics, Hispanic youth will be particularly targeted:

“Hispanic youth gangs plague communities and schools throughout the country, but particularly the Southwestern United States. The number of Hispanic youth gangs in our communities is growing rapidly and unabated. —- Operation No Gangs http://www.operationnogangs.org/

Nationally, an increase in father absence is also growing and having devastating effects on urban youth. The ROHBC aims to address this crisis through the program’s mentorship track. The ROHBC’s comprehensive mentorship program will consist of life coaching, one-on-one mentorship activities, and spiritual development courses facilitated by pre-screened mentors. The need for credible mentors in the absence of fathers has never been greater:

“63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes
 90% of all homeless and runaway youths are from fatherless homes; 85% of children who exhibit behavioral disorders are from fatherless homes; 71% of high school dropouts are from fatherless homes; 70% of youths in State institutions are from fatherless homes; 75% of adolescent patients in substance abuse centers are from fatherless homes; 85% of rapists motivated by displaced anger are from fatherless homes.”  – U.S. Department of Justice http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles/172210.pdf

The 8,000 square foot gym will be open Mondays through Fridays, 5 p.m. – 8 p.m following the grand opening. Call DLF at 214.777.5520 for more information.

Success is Never Final & Failure is Never Fatal

Judges 11

“It was during the time when Israel had no king: everyone did as we saw fit. My father’s name is Gilead and my mother is a prostitute. I’ve felt like a mistake for most of my life. My half brothers disdained me from birth. They went so far as to tell me that I would never get any of the family inheritance because I was a step child. Tensions arose until I could take it no longer. So I departed feeling rejected and despised by a family I did not ask to become a part of in the first place. I fled to the land of TOB with the one ability God had given me – -the ability to fight.

In TOB I became leader of a group of wild men. We all lived a “Robin Hood” style of existence. Although life was bad, at least someone recognized my potential. Things got pretty bad in Israel. The Ammonites pronounced war on my people. And who do you think they nominated as leader of their new army? You guessed it, they nominated me! It’s funny how people treat you bad until they need the one talent you have. They came back with their tails between their legs and begged me to lead them.

Bitterly I told them “Didn’t you hate me and drive me from my father’s house? Why do you come to me when you are in trouble?” The elders said “never mind that small issue, we need you bad!!!” I finally told them I would come on one condition, that I be the man in charge and what I say goes. They agreed. Even though I was rough and rugged, I had enough sense to know that only the Lord could win this type of battle. As a boy coming out of a painful environment, I did not have great faith.

I shocked the elders because they expected me to come in fighting. Instead,  I acted wisely and wrote the king a letter thoroughly explaining that his reasons for war were invalid because God had given us the land a long time ago. After 300 years of Israel being in the promised land, the king of Ammon tried to claim the land east of the Jordan.  Since the king was not impressed with my ancestor’s history, I called on Yaweh to decide the dispute. It does well to know the history of your people. He who does not know his history is doomed to repeat it.

The Lord gave them to me in battle and we conquered the Ammonites. But before the battle, I made a rash vow to God. I promised to dedicate to Him the first thing that ran out of the house. Unfortunately, my only daughter was the first to meet me after battle. And since I believe in my word being my bond, I dedicated her to temple living. My failure grew out of my success. My failure grew from an ignorance of the Word of God. Had I known the Word of God I would have understood that Leviticus 27 made provisions for God’s people to redeem things we vowed to Him. Even though I had a zeal for God, it was zeal without knowledge. Had I known the Word of God, I could have avoided giving up my daughter.

“Success is never final, and failure is never fatal.” Failure is a step to success. So I encourage you to disregard your past whether good or bad. Remember God has given you the ability to do something, and the Word of God is your guide to avoiding future mistakes.

By the way my name is Jephthah!

-Robert Triggs

Waiting for Windows

Ms. Willie Mae Thomas knows how to endure hard times and embrace change.  She’s raised 6 children, buried a husband, managed illnesses, and maintained her Oak Cliff home in the Wynnewood Heights neighborhood for the past 30 plus years. She’s quite a trooper. With her house dating back to the 1950’s and a neighborhood that is very

different from the one she initially moved into,  Ms. Thomas, who is 78 years old, has endured the challenges that come with an older home and accepted the vast changes  to her neighborhood.

But one challenge was unbearable.  Ms. Thomas had endured the home’s original windows installed 60 years ago, for too long.  She was in desperate need for new  windows.

Over time, her windows had gone from bad, to worse, and were heading for awful. Some of the windows would not open and others had multiple cracks that left her home vulnerable to the outside elements. Despite her efforts to spot caulk the leaks and do some make shift patching, the wind constantly seeped into her house and made her

uncomfortable. She stayed chilly and frustrated.  Furthermore, she was paying an exorbitant amount of money on her utilities, from her fixed income, in a house that could not keep a constant temperature.

The neighborhood association learned about Ms. Thomas’s plight and recommended her as a candidate for Dallas Leadership Foundation’s  Affordable Housing Program (AHP), which is exclusively for low-income seniors over 65 and persons with disabilities. She was an ideal candidate.

Recently,  Ms. Thomas got her wish for new windows and is proud as a peacock. She graciously shows them to her guests and explains that her new windows are energy efficient, tinted from the outside for added security, and look good on her front porch.   When asked about the how she felt, she exclaimed,” I couldn’t have done it without the help!”