The REST PHILLY Project: A BEST Practice Faith-based Program for America
A Chronological Review of
R.E.S.T. Related Published Documents
REST Inc TOP 5 Most Promising Faith-based corrections and Prisoner Reentry Programs
On October 17, 2005 “the REST Philly Program was identified as one of 5 most promising faith-based corrections and prisoner reentry programs” by the Urban Institute and National Institute of Justice (NIJ). (6th Published Document – listed below) What is this Ranking based on? The following lists of 10 Properties of the REST Program are verified from the Urban Institute study and other published documents/studies which are listed chronologically. The REST Program among other things, brings to the reentry table the following:
1) Access
a. Faith Community – Approximately 150 faith institutions have participated in REST b. Prison community – REST provides 14 weeks of Faith-based group therapy in all Philadelphia Prisons (6). Nearly 4,000 inmates have applied. 2300 were enrolled and 1410 graduated. c) Reputation; 1. The faith community is open for the REST Training Program and regularly contact REST for Training Mentors and counselors.
2. The Research community is poised to do long term extensive research on each aspect of the REST Program.
3) A Research worthy Therapeutic Program: REST (See current research studies attached. )
4) A traceable process
a. Pre-release Program; b. A professional record keeping system ; c. An in-depth training system; d. An effective therapeutic Counseling system; e. An on-going Aftercare-reentry system
5) A Standard Methodology
6) Relevant cultural appropriate and gender specific materials
7) Success – verifiable outcomes
8) Professional and thorough in-depth training and supervision of lay persons and professionals
9) Faith-based counseling and mentoring services that are cost effective and cost efficient.
10) Transportable to other cities.
2nd Published Document - January 2004 1st Independent Research Study on the REST Philly Project
“Back into the Fold: Helping Ex-Prisoners Reconnect through Faith” Ram A. Cnaan with Jill W. Sinha, University of Pennsylvania, School of Social Work, January 2004. Funding – Annie E. Casey Foundation
Study Overview: A comparison of 16 faith-based prison programs from across the country.
Findings and Conclusions by Research Study:“We have identified the REST Philly Model as the national model that shows the greatest promise of validating the importance of this bridging (building bridges between the world inside prisons and the one on the other side) as a means of reducing recidivism among inmates. In fact, we made the strongest reference to REST by stating: ‘supporting such a model (REST) and evaluating its impact is one of the brightest lights in the grim world of re-entry. REST is the only program (of the 16 in the research study) that addresses (to some degree) the majority of the services that inmates need provided in order to have a reasonable chance of remaining crime and drug free. It is also the most portable model .. reviewed to date. We can conclude form this preliminary study that REST has the greatest potential for becoming a national model of prison faith-based programs and may define future faith-prison programs. Both the Philadelphia Prison System and the local faith community are being enhanced by the presence of REST.”
#3 Published Document 2nd Independent Research Study on the REST Philly Project
“Instituting Lasting Reforms for Prisoner Reentry in Philadelphia”, Authors - Roman, Kane, Turner, Frazier. Urban Institute Justice Policy, August 2005; Funding - City of Philadelphia
Study Overview: This Study examined the prisoner reentry phenomenon in the city of Philadelphia focusing on the return of prisoners from the Philadelphia Prison System. One of the features of this research surveyed a representative sample of the 38,000 inmate population to ascertain their perceptions in regards to the six prominent in-prison inmate services programs. The questionnaire and interview process analysis was “intended to serve three purposes. First, these data provide feedback form the population PPS (Philadelphia Prison System) services can be used as a) planning tool … in developing or modifying existing programs; b) as a framework for the City to make determinations about appropriate levels of program investments; and c) as a means of evaluating the existing linkages between community-based services and returning prisoners.”… “Finally, these survey data can be used to evaluate how well prisoners believe the services and programming provide within PPS meet their needs.”… “ However, their perceptions of their own preparedness may provide a valuable predictor of their success or failure once they return home.”
Findings and Conclusions by Research Study. “ Among those (inmates) who participated in a program, REST had the highest satisfaction ratings, with 84% finding the program to be very useful on client satisfaction measures. (84%) … The follow-up question to the client satisfaction query asked all respondents who were familiar with a program to evaluate whether that program, or something like it, would be helpful for them after they were release from PPS. … The responses were highly correlated to the customer satisfaction responses – REST had the highest positive response (70.8%)” when compared to the other five programs.
#4. Published Document 3rd Independent Research Study on the REST Philly Project
“Faith-Based Corrections Programs Evaluability Assessment of: REST, Philadelphia Prison System, PA” Authors : Caterina Gouvis Roman & Colleen Owens, Urban Institute - Justice Policy Center - Research for Safer Communities, January 4 , 2006 ; Funding - National Institute of Justice - E v a l u a b i l i t y A s s e s s m e n t R e p o r t
Study Overview: This study reviewed and rank ordered faith-based prison & reentry program though-out the United States and selected the top five programs for further evaluation. Site visits were arranged for each of the five finalists (programs). REST was selected as one of the top five programs. At the conclusion of the site visit by the Urban Institute team and a staff member of the funding agency – National Institute of Justice – an evaluation / assessment report was submitted to the National Institute of Justice.
Findings and Conclusions by Research Study.“The REST program has many strengths. REST is unique in that it is based on a proven counseling therapy with adults, and theoretically, it makes sense that one could apply it to change offender behavior. Technically, adding the spiritual component to rational emotive behavior therapy does not change the process much; it is not a religious therapy, but simply a technique that uses spirituality (in the broad sense) to replace negative thought with uplifting positive thoughts.” …” .. very little is currently known about the mechanisms of behavior change with regard to violence, but cognitive therapy has been held up as a promising practice. REST seeks to change behavior using a spiritual-based cognitive therapy. The logic is theoretically and empirically sound. An evaluation of the REST model would add a significant amount of knowledge to the field of faith-based programming…. An evaluation would provide a very unique opportunity to both evaluate a faith-based program and a proven “behavior change” model with an incarcerated population.”… Interviewed program “recipients were very positive in their assessment of the services .. “all reported positive outcomes in line with the goals of the program.”
5th Published Document; (May 2005) US Mayor’s Center for Faith-based Initiatives
In a publication from the US Mayor’s Center for Faith-based and Community Initiatives an article entitled Breaking the Cycle I Philadelphia, The Faith Community Efforts describes REST as follows:
“Among the initial tasks assigned tot the Mayor’s Office of Faith-Based Initiatives (MOFI) was that of building a cogent faith-based ex-offender reintegration program. The first (2001) faith-based program to address the issue was the REST Philly Project. Directed by Dr. Rick McKinney, a minister and behavioral scientist , REST (Rational Emotive Spiritual Therapy) trained over 700 faith-based volunteers as counselors, using them to prepare both inmates and their families for their eventual reunion.” (It continues to be very active within the city.) (May 2005 ‘A SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO U.S. MAYOR for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives).
# 6 Published Document; URBAN INSTITUTE Inc.
On October 17, 2005 “the REST Philly Program was identified as one of 5 most promising faith-based corrections and prisoner reentry programs” by the Urban Institute and National Institute of Justice (NIJ) national research assessment. In a report to the National Institute of Justice “Faith-Based Corrections Programs; Evaluability Assessment of: REST, Philadelphia Prison System, Pa, January 2006, the authors/investigators write “The REST program has many strengths. REST is unique in that it is based on a proven counseling therapy with adults, and theoretically, it makes sense that one could apply it to change offender behavior. Technically, adding the spiritual component to rational emotive behavior therapy does not change the process much; it is not a religious therapy, but simply a technique that uses spirituality (in the broad sense) to replace negative thoughts with uplifting, positive thoughts.” They further state, “The REST program uses religion intentionally to intervene in the healing of emotions and the changing of pathological or self-destructive behaviors such as criminal activity. The program holds that change is best achieved by utilizing spiritual interventions to empower clients to overcome challenges on their own, outside of the counseling process. .. … The program logic model is strong, community buy-in is high, partnerships with mentors are strong… The logic is theoretically and empirically sound. There are no other local projects similar to REST.” An evaluation of the REST model would add a significant amount of knowledge to the field of faith-based programming. … An evaluation would provide a very unique opportunity to both evaluate a faith-based program and a proven “behavior change’ model with an incarcerated population. “
Caterina Gouvis Roman and Colleen E. Owens, Justice Policy Center, The Urban Institute, Washington, DC 20037, Funded by National Institute of Justice under Task Order 12, January 4, 2006.
#7 Published Document ; Promising practices, programs and policies, At A Glance: COMING HOME: From Prison to the Community with the Help of Faith, A Summary Report Prepared by for the Annie E. Casey Foundation, May 2006.
R.E.S.T. Philly - “Non-denominational, the program is based on Christian principles and belief in a Higher Power. A spiritual, rather than a religious program, it helps inmates, exprisoners and others overcome self destructive behavioral patterns, and equips the faith-based community to minister to troubled people.”
(House of Corrections; Administration Building, Rm #3; Philadelphia Prison System; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19136; (215) 685-8149)
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