Reentry Services
"Community Connection is the leader in providing reentry services to Ohio's offenders."

The mission of Community Connection for Ohio Offenders, Inc., is to provide inmates reentering Ohio's communities from prison, a comprehensive, systematic continuum of services, including but not limited to employment, pro-social skill development, and linkages to community services and resources.  To meet our mission, the mission of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, Ohio's communities, and the needs of the returning inmates, Community Connection has developed, implemented and continues to pursue a broad range of reentry strategies.  These strategies include reentry and post release services, community linkages, resource development, volunteerism, victim services, public education, professional training and crime prevention.  The agency has amassed some impressive statistics over its thirty years of existence. 

• Prison and Jail Reentry Education

Preparing inmates for release back into our communities is an important mission for Community Connection.  Reentry programs focus on employment readiness and life-coping skills that include:

• Substance Abuse Education/Prevention
• Domestic Violence Prevention
• Goal Setting
• Stress Management
• Money Management
• Community Resource Information and Linkages.

• Parenting Education

Extensive parenting education offered in the Franklin Pre-Release Center for mothers preparing to be reunited with their children.

• Aunt Mary's Storybook Project

Incarcerated mothers and fathers tape record books for their children to strengthen family bonds and encourage literacy.  The program is currently established in most Ohio prisons.  To visit  the Aunt Mary's page click the link at the left. 

• 93% of the participants in the Community Connection reentry programs completed a resume, exceeding the state standard by 13%.
• The Community Connection reentry program average career/life goal plan completion rate is 101.2%, which exceeds the state standard by 10.2%.  The reason for the percentage to be in excess of 100% is that institution education and college programs send students to our programs for career/life goal plan assistance.  These students are not in the current reentry program.
• Participants in Community Connection's community reentry programs averaged 90.2% attendance, exceeding the state standard by 10.2%.
• 91.22% of the Community Connection reentry clients received a certificate of completion, exceeding the state standard by 11.22%.
• 91.48% of the Community Connection reentry clients completed an employment development plan, exceeding the state standard by 11.48%.
• Community Connection reentry programs successfully served 91.36% of eligible inmates.

Of approximately 23,421 inmates that left Ohio's prisons in fiscal year 2000, Community Connection's thirteen programs served 6,368 eligible inmates or 27.19% of all inmates released - more than any other reentry program in the state.