On August 7, SCI Somerset hosted a Reentry Resource Fair for 266 inmates. At the event, which was held in the prison's gymnasium, 21 agencies were represented and provided a wealth of information to inmates who soon would be released from prison. The fair was well received with many flyers given out and networking contacts established.
Participating in this year's fair were Flagger Force, Goodwill of the Southern Alleghenies, CareerLink of Somerset County, The Erase Project, Fluid Delivery Solutions, Department of Banking and Securities, Mental Health Association of Pennsylvania, PA Housing Finance Agency, Liberty Ministries, Fair Housing Law Center, Triangle Tech, University of Pittsburgh, Peer Star, Amachi, Foundation of HOPE, Breaking the Chainz, and The Program "It's About Change."
In addition to these outside representatives, individuals from the DOC provided information on the agency's barber program and the use of virtual reality for soon-to-be-released inmates. ASCRA agents from Pittsburgh and Altoona Districts also met with interested inmates.
SCI Somerset's Social Work and Education Departments co-organized the event and received additional assistance from the Activities, Dietary and Security divisions.