Corrections Community

Aloha from the Hawaii District Probation office. In 2011, Hawaii will have a faith based one stop center called the HAWAII DREAM SERVICE CENTER, providing an opportunity for ex-offenders, homeless, mentally ill, and other unwanted members of society to find food, shelter, employment skills, counseling, spiritual guidance, and assistance to enable a person to get back on their feet and able to contribute to society. There are many Dream Centers in place currently throughout the world, one may be in your city. Are there any prisons working with the Dream Centers or providing this option to exiting prisoners? Thank you for your time, Kristy Curtin U.S. Probation Office, Probation Services Technician

Hi Kristy, This is the first I have heard of Dream Service Centers. It sounds like an incredible idea. I am in NYS and work in State Probation, training probation officers and others in offender workforce issues. I will try to see if there is anything in our state that is going on like this that I don't know about. Are all of the centers you refer to known as Dream Centers? are they all run by Faith Based Agencies? I do not work in a correctional facility and do not know the answer to your question but the idea of the center intrigued me. Is there someplace I could go on line to find out more about these centers?

Aloha Cynthia, I first learned of Dream Centers nearly 10 years ago when a young pastor named Matthew Barnett (son to Phoenix pastor Tommy Barnett) began a church in Los Angeles through a run-down hospital, utilizing every floor as a different way to assist people in the community. This church has taken on aspects of a hospital by healing those in need from whatever ailment or injury. The concept of a Dream Center has expanded tremendously because people are changing and getting help without the government's assistance or funding. The L.A. Dream Center will be launching a site in NEW YORK CITY at the American Airlines Theatre on August 11. For the website information go to: http://www.dreamcenter.org/new_york.shtml Any additional information that I receive I will pass on. Mahalo, Kristy Curtin

Aloha Kristy, Yes, now I do remember hearing a little about when I watched Tommy Barnett. They have a show on TBN late on Friday or Saturday evenings I believe. I was not putting it together with this at all. I feel it is a great idea.Actually it is all part of the great commission. It is too bad that the church and state cannot work better together without so many restrictions. I will definitely check out the website, I am glad that we will have one in NYC. I hope to be able to visit it sometime when I am in the city. Thanks for talking about this initative, I can't believe I am the only one who is not up on this. Does Mahalo mean good bye???

Cynthia, You are not the only one unaware of the great advantages that the many Dream Centers throughout the U.S. offer. I brought the idea up to the CHIEF PROBATION OFFICER here in Hawaii and he liked the information, yet had never heard of the Dream Centers and what are offered. Please feel free to spread the word about the opportunities, as I too am trying to do. Mahalo means Thanks and gratitude, or could also mean admiration, praise or esteem and Aloha is a greeting of Hello, Goodbye, or Farewell. Much appreciation for all that you are doing for NEW YORK and your community! Kristy

HI, Will be the clinical director -counselor for a level 4 faith -based facility in Pompano Beach,I am hopefully the final phases will be approved Monday. Anyway, I am new to this way of communication,can you let me know about how some publication you can recommend addressing offender employment. I see there are some to download but we prefer a hard copy or I guess it is OK to print it. It sounds like you are doing essentially the same thing? Jeff Di I send my email of phone or read on here?

Cleveland, Ohio, I have yet to hear of a "Dream Center." There is new activity and dialogue on the Second Chance Act and the potential. What makes a Dream Center different from other re-entry coalitions or organizations? Are you compiling ex-offenders, homeless and mentally ill all together? Why? In Cleveland, Ohio the employement scene is so bleak how will and ex-offender begin to complete even with applicable employment skills.

HI, yes me either.Our population will be from Dept of Corretions Probation by Officers very knowledgable with model of community services. We will provde requried counseling, lifeskills components standard for this service within a faith-based context. Never heard of Dream model. Is there a spell heck feature on this type of communication? My typing is hallneged!Th