Eric Grimes, mentoring program coordinator from Impact Services, visited SCI Smithfield on Feb. 19 to teach inmates about the services his organization can provide.
Along with Joseph Douglas, a former SCI Smithfield inmate who is now involved in Impact Services, Grimes explained how Impact Services can offer reentrants mentoring services to include goal-setting and attainment, mindset and motivation, support-seeking skills and behaviors and positive connections. Inmates can also take advantage of networking events, family/community events, job club sessions and career pathway and life opportunity coaching.
In addition, they can offer housing and workforce services such as rental assistance, housing placement, security deposits, transportation assistance, computer literacy classes and job training/placement. Once an inmate is paired with a mentor, Impact Services will tailor the mentoring to fit that inmate's particular needs. The mentors will then visit the facility and conduct an orientation session and schedule monthly visits with the inmates.