Eichelberger Prison Outreach Program

About the Program

Category: Criminal Justice and Public Safety (Best in Category)

Year: 2022

The Montgomery County Office of Reentry launched the Eichelberger Prison Outreach Program (EPOP) in April 2019 – a specialized initiative personalizing reentry planning and service connection of incarcerated individuals returning to Montgomery County (Ohio) within 6 months of release from state and local facilities of confinement. This model supports a full-time Reentry Program Coordinator, who as a restored citizen and trusted liaison, enhances prison partnerships as a resource connector, and advocate for successful community reintegration. Through mutual conversation and direct services to Ohio’s returning citizens (in-person, by phone & video in-reach), transitional needs are identified and addressed through development of tailored Community and Resource Engagement (CaRE) plans. This intentional strategy is designed to enhance intergovernmental relationships, building a seamless bridge from prison to the community and pathway to the signature Reentry Career Alliance Academy (RCAA). The 70% average RCAA graduation rate of EPOP clients in the last two years, has exceeded non-EPOP clients by 24%. The EPOP project was funded by a grant from the Jack W. & Sally D. Eichelberger Foundation of the Dayton Foundation; also promoting local and statewide travel and needed transportation assistance to returning citizens during the journey home to their communities and families.