{"id":27888,"date":"2021-09-10T12:02:21","date_gmt":"2021-09-10T16:02:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/?p=27888"},"modified":"2021-09-10T12:02:21","modified_gmt":"2021-09-10T16:02:21","slug":"genesee-county-free-from-incarceration-man-sees-gcasa-reentry-house-as-ray-of-hope","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2021\/09\/10\/genesee-county-free-from-incarceration-man-sees-gcasa-reentry-house-as-ray-of-hope\/","title":{"rendered":"GENESEE COUNTY\/Free from incarceration, man sees GCASA Reentry house as ray of hope"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"
From left, GCASA Reentry Program staff members Casey Moulton, Trisha Allen and Chester Shivers(provided photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

By Mike Pettinella
GCASA Publicist<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After serving about 15 years in jail or prison in three states and being subject to subpar living conditions afterwards, a Genesee County resident trying to put his life back together said his participation in Genesee\/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse\u2019s Reentry Program is giving him his best chance yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been to a halfway house and it was terrible; drugs, hookers and dealers. My parole officer recommended this program and, here, you have your privacy and it\u2019s a safer and healthier environment,\u201d said Jim (not his real name), speaking about his placement in the program\u2019s recently-opened house for men.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jim said his goal is to reunite with his wife and \u201cto stay sober.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said program staff has connected him to mental health, substance use and family counseling services in a way that he doesn\u2019t feel pressured or judged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd I am going to (Alcoholics Anonymous) meetings because I know I need to, not because I\u2019m being forced to,\u201d he offered, acknowledging that he has clashed with authority figures in the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The client, now in his 50s, said the GCASA staff of three men who work at the house have been very supportive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m definitely out of a bad situation, and I couldn\u2019t ask for anything more,\u201d he said. \u201cThe guys here are great.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The voluntary, grant funded program has well-developed policies and procedures and has defined criteria for eligibility, Coordinator Trisha Allen said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Allen, who started as a Peer Recovery Advocate at GCASA three years ago, said for men to be eligible they must have substance use disorder issues, whether they have been diagnosed or not; must be reentering (or recently reentered) the community after serving at least three months in incarceration or one month for a violation, and must be returning to Genesee or Orleans county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sex offenders or arsonists will not be admitted into the house although they can be helped in the program through care management and peer support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Currently, two of the program\u2019s 16 participants are staying at the house, which has five bedrooms. Residents have access to two bathrooms, a living area with television and computer workstation, and a kitchen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMen are referred by parole board, probation department or self-referred, and stay free of charge,\u201d she said. \u201cThe home is staffed from the hours of 8 a.m. to at least 9 p.m., and residents are required to be at the home before staff leaves at night.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Allen said the home, which is located in Batavia, serves as a place for those who have nowhere to go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is safe and supportive,\u201d she advised. \u201cToo many times, these men are placed in environments where it is detrimental to their recovery.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her staff consists of Case Manager Casey Moulton and Chester Shivers, Jason Rolle and John Benjamin, Reentry staff who have received Peer training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moulton said he worked in caregiving and respite surroundings prior to taking a position with GCASA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI like the idea that we could curb recidivism by creating a new way to approach people with trauma and great need,\u201d he said, adding that his appreciation for the arts and culture give him a unique perspective to interact with those who have been imprisoned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shivers, a Scranton, Pa., native, said he moved to Batavia in 2016.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Formerly incarcerated, he went through a reentry program at another location. He said it helped him to learn patience and to make healthy decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI take one day at a time, and wish to share the same hope that was given to me to others,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Allen said she is thankful that Shivers, Rolle and Benjamin are part of the GCASA team as they can relate to those who were incarcerated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what we needed \u2013 the lived experience,\u201d she said. \u201cMy goal was to get as many staff as we could with lived experience. We\u2019re fortunate, especially with them being men. It\u2019s beneficial to have men supporting other men.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Later this fall, a home for females that were incarcerated is expected to open at a location in Batavia. Allen said she plans to hire a couple of female staff members.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Mike PettinellaGCASA Publicist After serving about 15 years in jail or prison in three states and being subject to subpar living conditions afterwards, a Genesee County resident trying to put his life back together said his participation in Genesee\/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse\u2019s Reentry Program is giving \u2026<\/p>\n

Continue reading<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":27889,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[23],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27888","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-genesee-county"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8eTP4-7fO","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":24452,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2021\/04\/12\/genesee-orleans-gcasa-program-provides-support-to-those-who-have-been-incarcerated\/","url_meta":{"origin":27888,"position":0},"title":"GENESEE\/ORLEANS\/GCASA program provides support to those who have been incarcerated","author":"aka","date":"April 12, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Press release Added to the list of programs offered by Genesee\/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse last September, the GCASA Reentry Program continues to provide support to men and women seeking to find their place in the community after being incarcerated \u201cThe main goal of this program is to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Genesee County"","block_context":{"text":"Genesee County","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/genesee-county\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":35706,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2022\/08\/31\/wny-reentry-grant-program-changes-enable-gcasa-to-reach-more-formerly-incarcerated-individuals\/","url_meta":{"origin":27888,"position":1},"title":"WNY\/Reentry grant program changes enable GCASA to reach more formerly incarcerated individuals","author":"aka","date":"August 31, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Recent changes to the parameters of the federally funded offender reentry program are widening the path for formerly incarcerated individuals to receive services as they return to society. Trisha Allen, coordinator of the reentry program at Genesee\/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, said those changes include reducing the length\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Genesee County"","block_context":{"text":"Genesee County","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/genesee-county\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/reentry-graphic.png?fit=482%2C671&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":48026,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2023\/10\/28\/genesee-orleans-promotion-of-allen-to-project-director-reflects-success-of-reentry-program\/","url_meta":{"origin":27888,"position":2},"title":"GENESEE\/ORLEANS\/Promotion of Allen to project director reflects success of Reentry Program","author":"aka","date":"October 28, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"By Mike PettinellaUConnectCare Publicist In Trisha Allen\u2019s eyes, the need to help men and women returning to the community after being incarcerated far outweighs her job title at UConnectCare\u2019s Reentry Program. (Submitted photo) The Lyndonville resident recently was promoted by the agency, formerly Genesee\/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Genesee County"","block_context":{"text":"Genesee County","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/genesee-county\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/trisha-allen-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":35730,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2022\/09\/02\/genesee-county-federal-drug-official-calls-for-an-all-in-approach-to-save-those-struggling-with-substance-use-disorder\/","url_meta":{"origin":27888,"position":3},"title":"GENESEE COUNTY\/Federal drug official calls for an \u2018all-in\u2019 approach to save those struggling with substance use disorder","author":"aka","date":"September 2, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Pictured from left, Lynda Battaglia, director of Genesee County Mental Health & Community Services; Avi Israel, president and founder of Save the Michaels of the World, Inc., of Buffalo; Rob Kent, general counsel of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy; John Bennett, executive director of Genesee\/Orleans Council\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Genesee County"","block_context":{"text":"Genesee County","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/genesee-county\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/kent-and-friends-1.jpg?fit=971%2C585&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/kent-and-friends-1.jpg?fit=971%2C585&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/kent-and-friends-1.jpg?fit=971%2C585&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/kent-and-friends-1.jpg?fit=971%2C585&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":42759,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2023\/05\/25\/genesee-orleans-counties-scholarship-recipients-friends-honored-at-gcasa-gathering\/","url_meta":{"origin":27888,"position":4},"title":"GENESEE\/ORLEANS COUNTIES\/Scholarship recipients, \u2018friends\u2019 honored at GCASA gathering","author":"aka","date":"May 25, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"GCASA \u2018FRIENDS\u2019:\u00a0Receiving \u201cFriends of GCASA\u201d awards for 2023 are, seated from left, Heather Jackson, Jay Balduf, Megan Boring; standing, Patrick Cecere, Pam McCarthy, Scott Wooten, Matt Prawel, Lt. Bob Tedford.(provided photo) By Mike PettinellaGCASA Publicist Genesee\/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse officials on Wednesday afternoon honored six \u201cfriends\u201d of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Genesee County"","block_context":{"text":"Genesee County","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/genesee-county\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/gcasa-scholarship-2023.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/gcasa-scholarship-2023.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/gcasa-scholarship-2023.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/gcasa-scholarship-2023.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":32787,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2022\/05\/24\/genesee-orleans-counties-gcasa-recognizes-board-staff-scholars-friends\/","url_meta":{"origin":27888,"position":5},"title":"GENESEE\/ORLEANS COUNTIES\/GCASA recognizes board, staff, scholars, friends","author":"aka","date":"May 24, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"By Mike PettinellaGCASA Publicist Understanding the importance of enlisting all segments of the community to fight the scourge of substance use disorder, Genesee\/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse leaders on Monday afternoon recognized its board of directors, staff, scholarship recipients and \u201cfriends\u201d at the nonprofit agency\u2019s annual meeting. 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