In the early stages of 2018, the SCI Camp Hill Education Department was tasked to hold a Reentry Fair for inmates. In the end of September, that fair became a reality.
The Education Department teamed with representatives from all disciplines within the facility. Food Service, Maintenance, Transitional Housing Unit members, the Parole Board and others created a venue for approximately 29 vendors to present their programs and services to approximately 240 inmates.
The purpose of the Reentry Fair was to provide reentry information to those inmates who were nearing the completion of their sentences via parole or other means. The services and programs provided by the vendors included health care, employment, vocational training, financial information, mental health, drug, alcohol, and narcotics addiction and counseling services, and family support and interpersonal relationship skills.
Upon arrival at the prison's sports complex, the inmates appeared to be impressed and appreciative of the vendors, as many expressed their appreciation to the vendors and to the staff members who were present. Many inmates indicated they did not realize the facility or the department was increasing the effort to provide release services and contacts with community organizations in order to provide services upon an inmate's release.
As many of the vendors had never been inside a correctional facility or had knowledge of the correctional process, the vendors were provided with a brief tour of the facility in addition to an explanation of the diagnostic and classification system.
At the end of the day, the vendors, in addition to sharing their programs with inmates, also had the opportunity to network and share their programs and experiences with other vendors.
As the reentry fair is destined to be an annual event, this year's fair shall serve as a learning experience for next year's reentry fair and those to follow.
In closing, the reentry fair not only demonstrated to the inmates that the department is trying to improve reentry, but the reentry fair also proved that the success of the inmates is not based on input or efforts of one area of the facility. Instead, the success of the reentry fair is the efforts of many that drive the success of inmates and the facility.