Artifact #6

Running Head: LIFE-SKILLS TRANSITION PROGRAM FOR INCARCERATED WOMEN 1
Life-Skills Transition Program for Incarcerated Women
Ashley Thayn
University of Utah
Life-Skills Transition Program for Incarcerated Women
Introduction
The two purposes of this assignment are to determine an area of need for incarcerated
women at the Timpanogos Women’s Correctional Facility at the Utah State Prison. As well as,
incorporate an occupational therapy perspective and skill set to develop a needs-based and
occupation-based program. The needs assessment included one-on-one formal and informal
interviews with prison administration, religious clergy, transitional facility directors, mentors,
and incarcerated women. Additionally, observation was conducted of religious worship and
Houses of Healing class participation. Through an occupational therapy perspective based on
literature review of relevant subject matter, a formal occupation-based program was developed
and proposed to assist with current needs and gaps of the incarcerated women within Epiphany
Fellowship, St. Francis of Assisi Disciples of Christ Church, and the prison.
Description of Setting
Epiphany Fellowship is a faith-based organization led by Reverent Vicki Neumann that is
aligned with St. Francis of Assisi Disciples of Christ Church. Together they align mentors with
mentees in a weekly mentorship program for incarcerated women to help them escape the cycle
of poverty and to lower recidivism rates as they are released into the community. Their goal is to
help women in prison and up to one-year post release from prison to become successful in the
community. Epiphany Fellowship has joined hands with local community resources to provide
housing, job training and placement programs, educational opportunities, professional
counseling, and medical assistance to women upon their release.

Epiphany Fellowship is rooted in a spiritual foundation where they believe that true
change in attitude stems from a spiritual nature that comes from being centered in faith that “all
things are possible in God” (Epiphany Fellowship, n.d.). They believe that as like-minded
followers of Christ reach out in faith to fellowship the women of the prison, it will strengthen
each woman and establish a sense of belonging in the community. They extend their support to
encourage incarcerated women to build a better personal relationship with themselves and the
Lord, centered themselves on Christ’s foundation to set and reach goals, and engage in
strengthening the community and society. The mission of Epiphany Fellowship is:
“Epiphany Fellowship is a not for profit inner-city ministry, located in Utah. We are
called to help women released from prison caught in the cycle of poverty by providing a
mentoring program. We join hands with the community to share resources, so that we can
provide expertise in the fields of job training programs and placement, educational
opportunities, profession counseling, and medical assistance” (Epiphany Fellowship,
n.d.).
History
Reverent Vicki Neumann explains that “Epiphany Fellowship began truly through God,
as a literal epiphany” (V. Neumann, Personal Interview, August 27, 2018). Thus, the name
Epiphany Fellowship was born. Five years ago, she received a spiritual witness that the
incarcerated women of St. Francis of Assisi needed hope. She went to work to mentor women in
the prison and waited one year to get clearance to teach Houses of Healing, a 10-week course.
She recruited mentors from her local church and professionals within the community. She also
envisions developing a transitional safe-home that women released from prison could bring their
children, as the begin their new life.

Target Population
Epiphany Fellowship only serves the women in the Timpanogos Women’s Correctional
Facility at the Utah State Prison who attend the Houses of Healing program and the St. Francis of
Assisi Disciples of Christ Church. On average, the women’s prison has a capacity to hold 570
inmates total. Of the total inmate population, 19 of those women worship at St. Francis of Assisi,
15 are attending Houses of Healing from various religions, and currently nine women who
previously completed Houses of Healing are participating in the mentoring program with more
on the waiting list. The incarcerated women accepted into the program are non-violent and most
commonly have backgrounds of drug and alcohol abuse, stealing property or money, minor
prostitution, mental health conditions, and anti-social behaviors. The average age of the women
is 38 years old. However, ages currently range from 18 years old to 72 years old.
External Influences
Policy. Epiphany Fellowship’s policies require that in order for an incarcerated woman to
gain a mentor, she must first complete the 10-week Houses of Healing program. Each woman is
only allowed to take this course once. If they leave the class unfinished, they cannot complete
later. This policy is in place to set the upfront expectation, so they know what is required of them
if they choose to participate. This policy also increases the probability they will commit to take
the course seriously and invest themselves in doing the required homework and reading
assignments.
Additional policies require that mentors take an initial mentor training course through the
prison to acquire a prison badge. Then they must attend monthly and quarterly meetings led by
Reverend Vicki Neumann or the Utah Department of Corrections (UDC) and maintain strict
boundaries with their mentee. The strict boundaries mentors enforce include keeping personal
contact information secure such as not sharing a personal phone number or address and not
giving monetary or other gifts to their mentees.
Geographic. Epiphany Fellowship ministers at The Timpanogos Women’s Correctional
Facility located off I-15 at the Utah State Prison site in Draper, Utah. The area is known to locals
as the Point of the Mountain and is now becoming nicknamed “Silicon Slopes” because many
tech businesses are moving in. While for now the prison is located at the Point of the Mountain,
ground has been broken for the new relocation site near Salt Lake City International Airport.
Social. The social environment of the prison influences how incarcerated women act in
many ways. Incarcerated women are described as “anti-social” because they display behaviors of
dishonesty, manipulation, bullying, intimidation, violence, and co-dependence. “Families” exist
in the prison as protection and backup to threaten other women who cross them. While the
women admitted into the Houses of Healing program are non-violent, they appear display
manipulative and co-dependent behaviors.
According to prisoner A. J., an underground social network that exists is the individual
“stores” that each woman operates. Because goods and material possessions are hard to come by
in prison, each woman has their secret “store” where she will sell valued items purchased at
commissary for a higher price to other women in prison. When I asked A. J. why other women
would buy an item doubled in price that they could get later at commissary for half the price, she
explained that people want immediate gratification and they will pay it. What if they don’t pay
up? Then they get taxed double. So, a $2 package of cookies from commissary will cost $4 in a
“store”. Then if left unpaid for will jump to $8, as a tax for late payment. What if they still don’t
pay? That is where “families” come in, they will beat up a debtor who does not pay. When it
comes to payment, they do not pay with money. Rather they are given a bill which is a list of
items that adds up to dollar amount of the purchased item(s) from the woman’s store. The
customer will pay in the form of new items she obtained from commissary (A. J., Personal
Interview, October 22, 2018). These stores are against the rules of the prison. However, they will
not receive criminal charges unless they offer an illegal service or product. Regardless, it is
against the rules to trade or receive money from one another while incarcerated. This
underground network of stores represents the continuation of anti-social behaviors of not
following rules and using others personal gain and control.
The prison uses social punishments because by nature women are generally very socially
and relationship driven. “Social punishments as the punishment of choice because it is
immediately effective and motivational to them” says Sargent Tucker (D. Tucker, personal
interview, October 18, 2018). These punishments could include taking away time on the phone,
visitation, and locking them in at an earlier hour preventing attendance to meaningful classes,
more social interaction, and events.
Cultural. Incarcerated women have a code of secrecy. A prisoner reported they know
where to get drugs every day in prison; if they want to get high, the opportunity available. When
I asked Sargent Tucker how drugs are getting into prison, he said it is likely through Serving
Time Café. He explained, “It is not possible to monitor it perfectly, but it is the women’s choice
what choices they choose to make, as the same would be true outside of prison.” If incarcerated
women are caught high, then they must go through a court system within the prison.
Prison can become a comfortable way of life for many and is referred to prison staff as a
“revolving door”. Also, it is not uncommon for these women to come from similar backgrounds
of poverty, lack of education, abuse and trauma, drugs use with their family members, and to
also have a family member previously or currently incarcerated.

Economic. In Utah, the average cost to house an inmate per day is $79.44 (An In-depth
Budget Review of the Utah Department of Corrections, 2013), totaling $28,995.60 per year. The
current national recidivism rate is 56.7% by the end of the first year of release, 67.8% within
three years of release, 76.6% within five years of release, and 83.4% are arrested after 9 years of
release (NIJ, 2005).
Once an incarcerated woman is released from prison, she has an average debt of $6000,
which could include child support for her children in foster care and school fees for any
programs she attends while in prison. Child support is more commonly paid by incarcerated
women than incarcerated men because it is easier to prove biological association; while
incarcerated men can escape paying child support by avoiding a paternity test.
While in prison, the women can hold jobs in the laundry, kitchen, and commissary. When
they reach a higher level, they can be placed on work release where they can work as a flagger.
Their pay scale ranges from $0.40 to $1.60 per hour.
Political. Lowering recidivism is a national concern. In efforts to do this, Utah has
extended several opportunities to support those released from prison by supporting their
medication and medical needs by being eligible to receive Medicaid for one-year post release.
Also, they can apply for and receive Targeted Adult Medicaid (TAM) which provides 50%
coverage for a substance abuse rehabilitation facility to treat those previously incarcerated or
chronically homeless. Additionally, every terminated prisoner is eligible to receive Parolee
Access to Recovery (PATR) funding through their parole officer to cover emergency medical
expenses, bus passes, housing, deposit, and first and last month’s rent. However, it comes with
the stipulation that is must be used while they are on parole. Furthermore, to encourage local
business to hire past convicts and parolees, the state will bond each terminated prisoner up to
$20,000 if they attend two UDOWD classes. The UDOWD course trains them how to find and
practices interviewing for a job. When they complete the course, they will have copies of their
resume and interviewing strategies. Completion of this course should allow ex-convicts to obtain
a job within 30 days of completing the UDOWD course.
Demographic. Many faiths and spiritual practices are represented at the Utah state prison
including Asatru, Atheist, Baptist, Buddhist, Catholic, Christian, Islam/Muslim, Jehovah’s
Witness, Jewish, Latter-Day Saint, Lutheran, Methodist, Native American, Pentecostal,
Protestant, and Wicca (UDC, 2018). The racial majority that attends the St. Francis of Assisi
Church are Caucasian. The specific racial demographics for the Utah State Prison overall are
reported below to show the statistics for women as compared to men.
Offender Female Male Total % of Total

Race/Ethnicity
Asian/Pacific 23 187 210 3.17%
Black 17 434 451 6.81%
Hispanic 92 1,224 1,316 19.87%
Native 36 298 334 5.04%
American/Alaskan
Unknown 4 108 112 1.69%
White 399 3,801 4,200 63.42%
Prison Summary 571 6,052 6,623 100%
(UDC Stat, 2018)
Services Provided for Incarcerated Women
Epiphany Fellowship provides the opportunity to take the 10-week Houses of Healing
course. This Houses of Healing course instructs, encourages, and speaks to prisoners on creating
a new life through behavioral change, dignity, and respect for oneself and others. This course
supports prisoners in confronting issues of childhood wounding, grieving, managing anger,
facing the impact of crime, and taking ultimate responsibility for themselves and their actions.
(The Lionheart Foundation, 2018).

Once graduated from the course, they are qualified to sign up for a mentor. Mentors
through Epiphany Fellowship are assigned to incarcerated women who are usually within three
to six months of paroling to support them as they set up their own housing, jobs, education,
social services, transportation, medical, and mental health services. They may continue to work
with the offenders for up to one-year post release. Mentors provide spiritual, emotional, and
social support to encourage their mentees as they restart their lives in the community and avoid
reverting backwards to old behaviors and patterns that initially landed them in prison. Mentors
meet with their mentees weekly for one hour to help them develop short and long-term goals and
serve as a lifeline their mentee can call upon if they are struggling.
Upon release, the mentees in the Epiphany mentorship program receive new sheets and
comforter, personal hygiene kit, $40 voucher for clothing, Great Clips voucher, new shoes from
Payless Shoes, and access to the food pantry at the Granger Community Church on Saturday. St.
Francis of Assisi provides a worship service, sermon, gospel song singalong, and sacramental
service. They also teach the life-skills class Anticipate, that focuses on teaching budgeting,
Christian marriage, parenting, relationships skills, and their personal relationship with God.
The prison provides many rehabilitation, personal improvement, and transition program
opportunities to the women including professional counseling, EXCEL a live-in treatment
program, Your Parole Requires Extensive Preparation (YPREP) program that prepares
incarcerated women to successfully transition back into society by providing group-based
education on topics of housing, employment, transportation, child care, and health care needs.
Incarcerated women can be required to take certain courses depending on their violation but can
also earn the opportunity to choose what classes to attend including the opportunity to finish
their GED and gain higher education through Salt Lake Community College.
Several other non-profit organizations offer opportunities for personal growth through
Wasatch Music Education Program, Female Offender Transition Initiative, Family History
genealogical research, Crochet Program, Bedtime Stories, and Toastmasters Speech Club.
Upon release, women have access to many community-based programs such as Bridges
out of Poverty, People Helping People, and Vocational Rehab who aim to reduce poverty and by
increasing employment and job retention skills. The Utah Department of Corrections offers a
half-way house program for paroled known as Orange Street. This is a four to six-month
program that provides clinical treatment, classes that address cognitive, behavioral, psycho-
educational classes, and prosocial activities. By the end of their four months, they will have a
paying job and plan on how to live independently.
Other live-in substance abuse recovery programs exist that are more expensive but
provide more comprehensive treatment. Papilion House is a day and intensive outpatient
treatment program that bridges the gap between treatment and independence through a spiritually
guided 12-step program. This type of program provides the environment and tools to make long-
term recovery, improve personal relationships and develop the skills to increase productivity that
lead to building successful lives.
The newest transitional program is the Tiny House program where tiny homes are built in
participating cities, on participating home owner’s property, that allow post incarcerated woman
to live for three to five years. The rent they pay is collected into a trust fund that will be returned
to them once they move out in three to five years’ time span and are ready to place a down
payment on their own home. The tiny house will then be gifted to home owners who can use it as
a mother-in-law apartment, rental unit, or choose to accept another post-incarcerated woman.

Staff. The volunteer staff with Epiphany Fellowship and St. Francis of Assisi include
Reverend Vicki Neumann and 18 mentors she oversees, Pastor Charles Hines, and the music
coordinator. The prison staff with the most direct contact with the women in transition include
counselors, job coordinators, guards, captains, medical professionals, correctional officers, and
other staff who have gone through a nationally certified Gender Responsive training program to
teach them how to address issues specific to women.
Related services. Incarcerated women have access to many programs and services within
the prison. Several other non-profit mentoring programs exist who also work with incarcerated
women three to six months of paroling who also work to empower incarcerated women
transitioning from prison. Other non-profit group-programs exist in the prison to address similar
life-skills topics that St. Francis of Assisi addresses.
The non-profit program, REAL Transitions, offers a group-based life-skills program that
addresses basics in finances, social, emotional, and physical education. This program was
developed by offenders for offenders. A female offender leads the class and they discuss the
topics as a group. Supervisors from the community facilitate the course and check their
workbooks and offer positive feedback to homework completed. Female offenders will learn
practical skills on how to buy a car, understanding credit, and how to build healthy relationships
with themselves and others. They also learn basic principles of health including using food as
medicine, getting proper sleep, and getting in daily movement. These programs prepare
incarcerated women to successfully transition back into society by addressing housing,
employment, transportation, child care, and health care needs.
Funding sources. Funding sources for Epiphany Fellowship primary come through St.
Francis of Assisi to cover the cost of the Houses of Healing books, graduation certificates, and
folders. The Good Shepard Lutheran Church also assists to provide funding to support the
women as they are released from prison. Funding for the Utah State Prison and Women’s
Correctional Facility comes the Utah State Government and the U.S. Department of Justice.
Future Plans
Epiphany Fellowship is working on recruiting and training more mentors to meet the
demand of incarcerated women who want a personal mentor. Epiphany Fellowship would ideally
like to find a safe-house for women who are being released from prison that would act as a drug
free community where the women could cook together, bring their children, give and receive
support to each other, and have a clean and sober environment to make forward progress.
The prison is working to evaluate REAL Transitions by gathering and measuring data to
determine if this program is lowering recidivism rates. If REAL Transitions does prove to be an
evidence-based program, then the prison will provide funding for printing costs that is currently
now donated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The prison is also working to
train all staff on gender specific issues and strength-based interactions in an effort to improve the
prison culture and lead with an approach that will lower recidivism.
Programming Strengths and Areas for Growth
Epiphany Fellowship Clergy Perspective
Reverend Perspective. A one-on-one structured interview was conducted with Reverend
Vicki Neumann of Epiphany Fellowship. The strengths of Epiphany Fellowship program first
begin with their process outlined for the incarcerated women to (1) attend church and start
building a relationship with God, (2) go through the Houses of Healing course, and (3) ask for
mentors. Reverent Neumann ensures mentors through Epiphany Fellowship are trained on how
to apply appropriate reflective listening techniques and set and maintain healthy boundaries with
mentees. Reverent Neumann reported, “the mentors have common perspective to place hope in
the hearts of incarcerated women by having positive influence and conversation with them” (J.
Neumann, personal interview, October 24, 2018).
Weekly, mentors work to help mentees set short and long-term SMART goals, so
mentees can see their small achievements week by week and begin to trust themselves. The
foundational perspective of Epiphany Fellowship is to guide incarcerated women to build upon a
spiritual foundation by attending church services, centering their focus on building a relationship
with God, rebuilding trust with themselves, and then building trust with others. The Houses of
Healing course facilitated by Epiphany Fellowship, teaches incarcerated women to “learn the act
of forgiveness, first of themselves, then those they have harmed, as well as others who have
harmed them in their past” (J. Neumann, personal interview, October 24, 2018). According to
Sargent Tucker, the prison data shows that women who attend the Houses of Healing course and
are mentored three to six months prior to release and continued to be mentored a year afterward
show significantly decreased recidivism rates of 17-19% (Tucker, D, personal interview, October
11, 2018).
Some barriers Epiphany Fellowship faces are continued funding to pay for the Houses of
Healing books and cost of printing of homework sheets because this program is a volunteer-led
and personally funded by the Reverend Neumann. Furthermore, the Houses of Healing class is
growing in popularity which continues to add increased costs. Another barrier is finding
volunteers. Reverent Neumann explains this is because people have a fear of the prison and what
the inmates will be like (J. Neumann, personal interview, October 24, 2018). Reverent Neumann
also needs professionals in the community that can devote one hour to mentor, plus one hour of
research per week, and drive time which can total 3 hours a week. Finally, Reverend Neumann
plans to retire, but needs someone who can consistently continue to carry out the Houses of
Healing program. The main stipulation is the Houses of Healing program requires specific
facilitation by a psychologist, social worker, certified counselor, license mental health counselor,
substance abuse counselor, or minister.
Reverend Neumann sees the greatest area of need for incarcerated women is to know who
they are in the spiritual sense and have a personal and meaningful relationship with God because
when they know who they are they are, they live a life in accordance to a higher vision for
themselves. She explained, “they need to learn to love themselves first, and then love others” (J.
Neumann, personal interview, October 24, 2018). She believes that through God’s love for them,
they learn about self-love and acceptance. Once released from prison, she sees the greatest need
as having a transitional safe house that is a drug-free home of no more than 10 women, located in
a neighborhood, with a trained live-in couple or neighbor that oversees the house to ensure it
stays drug and alcohol free. She would like this house to have the opportunity to hold AA and
NA meetings, bible studies, have access to a computer for job search capabilities, learn
accountability through chores, and continue to learn more life-skills.
Pastor Perspective. A one-on-one structured interview was conducted with Pastor
Charles Hines to understand the perspective of the pastor who has worked with these women
weekly for four years. He sees the strengths of Epiphany Fellowship’s program rooted the deeper
purpose found in mentors who love God want to share the love of God with the women of the
prison. He noted that mentors have a profoundly positive effect to build a meaningful support
system with their mentees as they establish a healthy relationship coupled with strong, healthy
boundaries. The barrier he identified was more a result of the system of the prison women can be
transferred from prison to jail during their mentorship program. The jails typically do not have a
similar program in place to continue the mentorship.
He reported the most relevant needs of the women are to “give their life to Christ and
walk with him while and in prison and continue to walk with him when they get out of prison”
(C. Hines, personal interview, October 19, 2018). Additionally, he believes they need access to
affordable housing, job training, the ability to get a job quick, avoid negative influences with the
wrong group that leads to old, poor habits, to break the spirit of addiction, attend AA and
recovery meetings, work toward reconciliation with their children, develop patience while in
prison because they live in a cramped, small space that leads to gossip and frustration, and have
access to classes to explore career opportunities.
Lastly, Pastor Hines feels that the prison needs to bring in more programs. He would like
to see them offer Celebrate Recovery – a 12-step Christian-based recovery program, and believes
they need a nursery within the prison where mothers with good behavior can spend time with
their kids because those relationships are very motivating to them when they are clean in prison.
Prison Officer Perspective. A one-on-one structured interview was conducted with
Sargent Dennis Tucker. He identified the main strengths of Epiphany Fellowship are lowering
recidivism rates to 17-19% and developing pro-social relationships with woman who have likely
never had one. Sargent Tucker also identified strengths within the corrections facilities are that
they are taking a more strength-based approach to lower recidivism. He reported the prison
system is slowly working on creating a culture change because evidence shows the old system of
“lock them up and throw away the key” mentality isn’t working, and recidivism rates have
remained the same over decades.

The current weakness Sargent Tucker reported about mentoring programs across the
board is “It is a common mistake for mentors to believe that they know better because Jesus
would have compassion on these women and would give them money or welcome them into
their homes to help them get ahead. However, serious problems have occurred because they are
not normal citizens” (D. Tucker, personal interview, October 18, 2018). He also identified
current barriers he sees within the prison system as guards and officers being resistant to a
strengths-based approach because they did not go into the field of corrections to be therapists and
feel it does not fit with their personality. While the corrections culture has been trying to change
the old mentality, the system still rewards the hard and strict behaviors amongst staff by
promoting them to higher positions which slows progressive change towards a strengths-based
approach.
Sargent Tucker reported that the greatest need of incarcerated women is to have healthy
connection in their life in order to be successful. “Pro-social relationships are something many of
these women have never experienced and more often all of their interpersonal relationships are
anti-social” states Sargent Tucker (D. Tucker, personal interview, October 18, 2018). A character
trait he feels incarcerated women need to learn but does not know how to teach is perseverance.
He stated, “All [incarcerated women] focus on getting off of paper, but then what?” (D. Tucker,
personal interview, October 18, 2018). “Getting off of paper” is also known as “expungement”.
This is a legal process to clear their record. Sargent Tucker explained female offenders need to
develop a greater perspective to be successful in life beyond the short-term mentality of clearing
their name from the legal system.
Transitional Rehab Center Administration Perspective. A semi-structured informal
interview was completed with John Misrasi of Papilion House, a transitional drug rehab facility.
The strengths he sees of the prison programing is that prison serves as a way to get healthy by
getting clean and allowing time for incarcerated women to focus on their spiritual life.
John Misrasi’s perceived weaknesses of the prison program are that prison can provide so
much assistance and stability with covered dental, laundry, cooking, housing, and medical needs,
that it is more comfortable to be in prison than working and making it on their own outside of
prison. He stated that “This is likely one reason prison is referred to as a revolving door because
they feel prisoners have not learned how to apply life-skills they are taught in prison because
those life-skills need real life application to learn how to manage” (J. Misrasi, personal
interview, October 21, 2018).
The needs John Misrasi reported needs specific to incarcerated woman are to “get further
treatment to address their past traumas and emotional regulation” (J. Misrasi, personal interview,
October 21, 2018). He also pointed out they need to avoid instant gratification, learn budgeting
and money management skills, focus on getting natural highs from cultivating positive
relationships with their kids and family members, always align with their higher power, and
focus on facing change as uncomfortable as it will be (J. Misrasi, personal interview, October 21,
2018).
Mentor Perspective. One-on-one structured and semi-structured informal interviews
were conducted with two mentors from Epiphany Fellowship. They see strengths of the
mentorship program as being a support system to the women and walk with them through the
adversities of their life. They like to support them to plan and think through each step themselves
of how to set up housing and employment and face problems they encounter. They also
appreciate that healthy boundaries and motivational interviewing techniques are continuously
reiterated and supported because it can be challenging to not want to help to do things for the
women. They also appreciate that the mentors are committed professionals who choose to
volunteer their time and are committed in their heart.
Some mentors reported barriers as too strict of prison rules including not being able to
give hugs while in prison and too restrictive of regulations outside of prison which prohibited
more meaningful contact such as taking them out to lunch. While the rules were a comfort to
some mentors, to others it bothered them. A mentor who was previously incarcerated 17 years
ago understood the struggle to feel apart of society again because of the immense road blocks
that arose when trying to get hired for a job and find housing that would accept a previous felon.
He stated, “Although prisoners are released and terminated from prison, they still continue to
carry a scarlet letter that follows them around no matter how much they have changed” (S. Clay,
personal interview, October 24, 2018). He also explained that the greatest struggle for previous
felons is found in their free time and not knowing who they are without those drugs.
Mentor’s agree that it is imperative for mentees to have supportive relationships when
outside of prison. This is because once they are back in society again, it can quickly become
discouraging and highly difficulty to keep a positive life direction when their peers in the half-
way house are returning to drugs. Mentors also saw a continued need for one-on-one counseling,
practice in paying bills, being responsible, and having a hopeful perspective.
Mentee Perspective. Five structured and two semi-structured informal interviews were
conducted with incarcerated women. The strengths they first appreciate in the prison
programming is they know they have so much opportunity available to them. They value the
opportunity to hold a job and better themselves. They also really appreciate classes that teach
them concrete job skills through SLCC because they feel it will help them be successful when
they get out of prison.

The barriers they see within prison environment stem from it being very loud and tight
quarters. They have difficulty participating in Houses of Healing homework exercises that
require personal meditation exercises. Another barrier is rooted living in close quarters with
other women with antisocial behaviors, they either isolate themselves or learn poor habits from
those around them. Another challenge they face is being placed on an earlier lockdown time
which prohibits them from attending the personal development classes that are only held during
the evening. They also cannot attend the gym unless they are on an 8pm lockdown.
When asked what additional programs would help them be successful in staying out of
prison, they wanted a therapy program to work on their traumas in-depth. They also expressed a
desire to have more resources to access when they first get out of prison such as more access to
mentors, food stamps, housing, and living on their own without falling prey to co-dependent
relationships. Furthermore, they reported a need for programs to help them deal with anger
issues, learn depression and emotional management strategies, budgeting skills, relationships
skills, parenting classes, life-balance skills, and classes to obtain work and employment. When
asked what other women in prison needed help with, they mentioned improving their confidence,
self-worth, and not bullying other women. Incarcerated women stated their top five occupational
concerns within prison were:
1. Getting a shower because of the long wait
2. Getting a job
3. Paying down their debt
4. Making money or trading goods
5. Doing well in their classes
Their top five occupational concerns outside of prison are:

1. Finding a spiritual community and support group
2. Getting a job
3. Obtaining affordable housing
4. Being a better mother to their kids
5. Maintaining sobriety when they leave prison
Graduate Student Perspective
A combination of formal and informal interviews, observation, and open conversation
were completed with religious clergy, prison staff, mentors, incarcerated women, volunteers, and
transitional facility administration to gain a clearer picture of the current services provided and to
identify current gaps, areas of need, and additional services for incarcerated women to improve
their occupational success inside of prison and when released from prison. Observations of
religious worship, the Houses of Healing course, mentoring, and REAL Transitions were
completed to better understand how the current programing is being implemented and to detect
any gaps or areas of need.
Strengths. The mentorship program of Epiphany Fellowship first points the incarcerated
women to connect to their higher power. Epiphany Fellowship also empowers their dedicated
mentors with training and tools in SMART goal setting, reflective listening, and motivational
interviewing skills to support their mentee focus on developing a personal plan to successfully
transition back into society. Epiphany Fellowship holds regular monthly training meetings for
mentors to reiterate skills and boundaries and takes a team-based approach to discuss solutions to
problems their mentees face.
The mentorship program aligns one mentee with two mentors in an attempt to provide her
more support and as a safety precaution for mentors to prevent manipulation tactics the mentee
may knowingly or unknowingly act out. Incarcerated women appear to actively participate in the
program and appear very appreciative and engaged.
Mentors are volunteers who are truly committed to the program and want to serve and
support incarcerated women turn their lives around. They genuinely want to help them make
positive changes and have a new life outside of prison. Finally, significant decrease in recidivism
as a result from Epiphany Fellowship prove that the Houses of Healing and mentorship program
through Epiphany Fellowship are working to lower recidivism rates.
Weaknesses and barriers. Intrinsically, the women come into prison with a history or
trauma, PTSD, abuse, drug and alcohol abuse, and mental health challenges. Because acquiring
drugs has been their central focus prior to prison, they quickly return back to those behaviors
when released because they have not practiced the skills of what to do differently and are easily
triggered.
The prison system works by levels based on behavior. Poor behavior drops women in
levels with a result of earlier lock-down times. Lockdown severely limits the incarcerated
women’s occupational participation in learning necessary life-skills. An example of this is my
mentee has lock-down at 4:30pm. When I asked her why she wasn’t attending Real Transitions,
a life-skills class held Saturday’s at 6pm, she reported she did not know about it because she
cannot go out after 4:30pm. While her behavior did cause her to drop a level in the first place, it
is another problem that she is being released from prison November 6, 2018 without having
participated in taking valuable life-skills classes. Additionally, all the life-skills classes are
offered only in the evening, which automatically prohibits those who may need them most from
taking them.
When I explained to an officer that my mentee was being released from prison in a few
weeks and would benefit far more to attend the life-skills course versus siting in her cell, he
shared my concern but pointed out that captains want to avoid chaos. Meaning, it does not matter
how much an offender needs the skills a life-skills course offers, nor does it matter how soon her
release date is. If her lockdown time is earlier due to the captain’s discretion, then she will not
attend. While incarcerated women can apply to change levels which will influence their
lockdown times every 30, they can and are released before that ever happens. In this area, the
corrections system demonstrates a lack of a client-centered approach and impedes necessary
growth and development offenders could achieve.
A barrier mentors face is that incarcerated women’s release dates are getting moved up
and are not allowing mentors to meet with their mentee three to six months prior to release from
prison. If mentors are not allowed time to build a relationship with their mentee, mentors will not
be allowed to have contact with them outside of prison because the prison data shows that it
takes a mentorship relationship three to six months to be effective outside of prison.
A weakness of the prison system is that prison can impede incarcerated women practicing
skills of time management and learning to structure their day because they are told what to do
and when to be there. They also do not have the responsibility of paying bills, doing their own
laundry or cooking their own meals because everything is done for them. Also, the current
programs lack modifications and adaptions for differing levels of ability.
An area of growth within the prison would be to have important life-skills classes held at
times all prisoners could realistically go to; or, allow them to choose to attend life-skills classes
and then return to their cell for lock-down. While the prison provides a lot of opportunity for the
woman to take group-based classes, there is a missing component to learn from real-life
application. It is one learn theory but something entirely different to develop the habits and
patterns of behavior to successfully show a mastery of those life-skills over time. One way the
habit of perseverance could be taught would be to implement the practice of setting personal
budgeting goals based on their personal income and strategize how to pay down their debts and
expenses while in prison, so they could easily transfer those skills and habits when they are
released.
Through interviews and observation of incarcerated women’s behaviors and habits, they
would benefit from interactive budgeting and bill paying program. Incarcerated women could
learn to manage their own finances within prison and participate in paying bills just like they
would need to pay outside of prison. Reasonable charges could be placed on services they
receive based on a percentage that is realistic for them to afford in the areas of paying for rent,
laundry, meals, health care, dental care, laundry, and paying down their own debts. This in-
prison program would provide them with the opportunity to practice the habit and skills of
money management and bill pay now. Another incentive would include any money they pay into
internal bills would accrue in a separate account that would then be gifted to them upon release.
Appendix A: Interview Questions
Reverend questions
1. What services do you provide?

2. Who are the staff? What is their title/positions?
3. What are your funding sources?
4. What kinds of programming/services do you currently offer?
5. What plans for different or additional services, etc.in the future?
6. Based upon your knowledge of the mentees and how they function in your program or
after they leave, what gaps do you see in their functioning or skill levels?
7. When you think about the skills and abilities people need when they leave here, where
are the gaps in skills that they need?
8. How many mentees are there in this program?
9. How many mentors volunteer their time?

10. Where do the mentee’s children go once they are in prison?
11. What other services do they receive in prison?
12. How do you find mentors and community support?
13. Who are the service providers outside of Epiphany Fellowship?
14. What are your scheduled meeting times?
15. What other problems that this population experiences of needs that are currently unmet?
16. Are there classes and life-skills that would be helpful?
17. How would a health promotion and wellness program be beneficial?
18. What are the requirements for the mentors?
19. What are the requirements for the mentees?
20. What do you see as the top most important needs of the women?
21. What are the strengths of the current services?
22. What are the weaknesses of the current services?
23. What barriers do you feel prevent you from providing services?
24. What programs or groups do you wish you could implement?
25. What programs do you think would benefit the students currently?
26. What ages receive the most services?
27. What qualifies a woman for services?
28. What area is being overlooked?
Pastor questions
2. What programs do the women have access to?
3. What programs do you wish were available?
6. What are current barriers to implementing new programs?
7. How do you currently fund programs?
8. What would you have to do to fund other programs?
9. What do you feel are the most relevant needs of the students?
10. What programs have you observed in other locations that you feel would benefit this
area?
11. If you had unlimited funds for the program, what would you want to buy or implement?
12. What other services do you feel should be offered?
Prison guard questions

1. What is the current population of the women’s prison?
2. What types of units do you house and for what reason?
3. What programs are available to the women?
4. What are the demographics (race, age, mental illness, substance abuse, religious
affiliation)?
6. What programs do the women have access to?
7. What programs do you wish were available?

10. What are current barriers to implementing new programs?
11. How do you currently fund programs?
12. What would you have to do to fund other programs?
13. What do you feel are the most relevant needs of the students?
14. What programs have you observed in other locations that you feel would benefit this
area?
15. If you had unlimited funds for the program, what would you want to buy or implement?
16. What other services do you feel should be offered?
Mentor questions
1. What challenges do you face of being a mentor?
3. What are the strengths of the mentorship program?
4. What are the weaknesses or barriers of the mentorship program?
5. What do you feel are the most relevant needs of the women?
Mentee questions
1. What strengths do you see in the programs within the prison?
2. What weaknesses or barriers to you experience with the programs within the prison?
3. What needs, or skills do you think you or incarcerated women have?
4. What programs do you wish were in place at the program that would help you be
successful in leaving prison for good?
References
Clay, S. (2018, October 24). Personal Interview.
Hines, C. (2018, October 19). Personal Interview.
Misrasi, J. (2018, October 21). Personal Interview.
Neumann, V. (2018, August 27). Personal Interview.
Office of the Legislative Auditor General. (2013). An in-depth budget review of the Utah
department of corrections. Retrieved from https://le.utah.gov/audit/13_09rpt.pdf
National Institute of Justice. (2014). Recidivism. Retrieved from
https://www.nij.gov/topics/corrections/recidivism/Pages/welcome.aspx
The Lionheart Foundation. (n/d). Emotional literacy programs for prisoner, at risk youth, and
teen parents. Retrieved from https://lionheart.org/prison/houses_of_healing/
SLIHN Epiphany Fellowship. (n.d.). About. Retrieved from http://www.epiphany-
fellowship.com/
Tucker, D. (2018, October 11). Personal Interview.
U. S. Department of Labor. (2018). $5M in grants available to create jail-based employment
centers to ready inmates for job market before release, reduce recidivism. Retrieved from
https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/eta/eta20160113
Utah Department of Corrections. (2018). Religious services. Retrieved from
https://www.corrections.utah.gov/index.php/volunteers/religious-services
Evidence-Based Practice
A literature review was conducted to better understand the existing programs and needs
for occupational therapy-based life skills training of incarcerated women. This literature review
was conducted by accessing online journals through the American Journal of Occupational
Therapy, University of Utah Library, and Google Scholar. The search terms included
combinations of the following terms: occupational therapy, women, offenders, inmates, prison,
incarceration, correctional facilities, corrections, criminal justice, forensics, jail, rehabilitation,
transitional programs, recidivism, occupational deprivation, trauma, substance abuse, and
treatment. Articles were reviewed for relevancy and evaluated for competency and proficiency
of information. The decision to accept or reject each article was determined by how directly
applicable the content was to this population. Forty-three articles including two dissertations
theses were accepted into this literature review and are referenced below.
Female Offender Characteristics and Deficits
Across the nation, women in prison tend to have tumultuous pasts with common themes
of trauma stemming from emotional, physical, or sexual abuse (Chapman, Specht, & Cellucci,
2005; Smith, 2017). Fallot and Harris (2002) report that consequences stemming from trauma
play out across the lifespan with women displaying challenges in “emotional control,
dissociation, depression, substance abuse, and difficulties maintaining safe, stable, and mutually
satisfying interpersonal relations” (as cited in Crewe, Hulley, & Wright, 2017, p. 4). The effects
of childhood sexual abuse lead to feelings and behaviors of powerlessness and learned
helplessness. This is associated with an increased difficulty with impulse control (Alloy &
Seligman, 1979; Pelissier & Jones, 2006).

Poor impulse control combined with life traumas is a recipe that can lead to self-
medicating behaviors that result in a physical chemical dependence and changes of behavior
caused by addiction. Drug charges tend to be the top offense for women incarcerated in the
United States (Harrison & Karberg, 2003; Springer, 2010). According to Giordano (2000)
addiction destroys women’s lives mentally, physically, and spiritually. Substance abuse has been
defined by clinicians and scholars as “a total resignation from living” (Martin, Bliven, Boisvert,
2008, p. 81). This resignation is seen as a diminished ability to function in everyday fundamental
life-skills. Women in prison have a higher likelihood of “impoverished social networks, a lack of
structure and routine, poor motivation, and limited employment and leisure skills” (Buijsse,
Cann, Davis, 1999 as cited in Martin, Bliven, & Boisvert, 2008, p. 81). Female offenders also
display characteristics of dysfunctional living with antisocial attitudes and relationships,
maladaptive personality characteristics, diminished self-esteem, and decreased quality of life
which further perpetuate a life full of despair and loneliness (Giordano, 2000; Hunter, Lanza,
Lawlor, Dyson, & Gordon, 2016; Martin, Bliven, & Boisvert, 2008).
Furthermore, incarcerated women tend to be less educated, lacking a high school diploma
or General Education Diploma (GED) (Harlow, 2003). Furthermore, many have a history of
unstable employment prior to prison and tend to repeat this pattern when they leave prison
(Visher, La Vigne, & Travis, 2004). Due to the myriad of compounding problems incarcerated
women face that negatively affect their life skills before and after their release from prison, there
is a critical need for life-skills training within prison.
Effect of Occupational Deprivation in the Prison Setting
In some settings, prison disciplinary systems restrict personally meaningful instrumental
activities of daily living (IADL) in social participation, communication management, and health
management and maintenance. The reasoning is because these types of restrictions serve as
punishment to provide motivation for females to change behavior (D. Tucker, personal
communication, October 11, 2018). These restrictions can take the form of revoked phone calls,
visitation with family and friends, gym access, and life-skills training during inaccessible times.
Such restriction from engaging in occupational activities “compounds temporal disorientation’
(Farnworth & Muñoz, 2009; as cited in Molineux & Whiteford, 1999, p. 194).
According to scholars, occupational deprivation impedes prisoner’s successful
reintegration back into the community. Whiteford (2000) and Molineux and Whiteford (1999)
noted that over time occupational deprivation diminishes an inmate’s ability to adaptively
respond to new environments. The authors argue that this obstacle could be treated through
occupationally-enriching prison environments (Whiteford, 2000; Molineux & Whiteford, 1999).
Furthermore, prisoners who experience a consistent and long-term lack of meaningful and
purposeful opportunities for work, education, skill acquisition, and social interaction in prison
environments could become so removed from the roles of community life that they lose the
capacity to structure their time to meet the challenges of community participation (Farnworth &
Muñoz, 2009; Haney, 2001; Nurse, Woodcock, & Ormsby, 2003; Whiteford, 1995; Whiteford,
1997). Furthermore, key deprivations transfer internally to personally feeling devalued as a
woman (Crewe, Hulley, & Wright, 2017).
Habits and routines. Prisoners have a great deal of free time. Those who are kept in
maximum security have even more free time and experience a life dominated by sleep and
passive leisure occupations participated in alone (Davidson, Hoge, Merrill, Rakfeldt, & Griffith,
1995; Delespaul, 1995; Harvey, Fossey, Jackson, & Shimitras, 2006; Farnworth & Muñoz, 2009;
Krupa, McLean, Eastbrook, Bonham, & Baksh, 2003). Additionally, researchers found that
prisoners reported they were “inactive, bored, and just killing time” (Farnworth, 1998;
Farnworth, 2000; as cited in Farnworth & Muñoz, 2009, p.194). The use of time that elicits
boredom is associated with poor mental health (Farnworth, 1998; Farnworth, 2000; Farnworth &
Muñoz, 2009). Allison and Casey (2001) reported that the loss of habits and routines have a
compounding effect that can occur on physical health, such as greater rates of obesity (as cited in
Farnworth & Muñoz, 2009) as a result from antipsychotic medication side effects (Farnworth &
Muñoz, 2009).
Scholars report that effective functioning in personal roles stem from habits and routines
that are created from patterns of occupation (Davidson, 2007; Farnworth & Muñoz, 2009). This
is important because understanding how positions of status affect individuals and their view
themselves determine how they know themselves and experience meaning in their life roles
(Kielhofner, 2008; as cited in Farnworth & Muñoz, 2009).
Existing Life-Skills Programs in the Prison Setting
According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, “work readiness programs are available in
88% of federal and state facilities, and educational programs are available in 85% of facilities”
(as cited in Clark & Duwe, 2015, p. 385). Also, counseling programs, substance abuse treatment,
and life-skills programming, are available in 92% of correctional facilities (Clark & Duwe,
2015). However, despite the wide availability of programs, decreasing numbers of prisoners are
receiving that training and education (Clark & Duwe, 2015; Mears, Lawrence, Solomon, &
Waul, 2002). Statistics show that the percentage of offenders who received secondary
educational programming decreased from 43% to 35%, those receiving vocational training went
from 31% to 27% of prisoners (Lynch & Sabol, 2001; as cited in Clark & Duwe, 2015, p. 385).
The reason for this is likely due to underfunding in prison programing in correlation with
increasing prison populations (Warren, Gelb, Horowitz, & Riordan, 2008). Underfunding is
resultant from a lack of evidence showing the value and effectiveness of prison programs in
lowering recidivism.
Role of Occupational Therapy as a Solution to Recidivism
Recidivism refers to an offender’s return to criminal behavior resulting in rearrest,
reconviction, or return to prison (National Institute of Justice, 2014). According to Busuttil
(1989) occupational therapists working in the rehabilitative setting have served a major role in
former female offender’s rehabilitation process from substance abuse. The task was addressed
with education and practice to enabling former offenders to improve social skills, develop
healthy habits and daily routines, and use their free time to engage in healthy interests and
hobbies (as cited in Martin, Bliven, & Boisvert, 2008).
Furthermore, Farworth and Muñoz (2009) reported that while correctional settings offer
some work-based opportunities, these jobs can be repetitive, mundane, and not teach new skills.
Comparatively, offenders who were taught a creative marketable skill in making tote bags and
dog jackets were able to earn money, learn new employment skills, and gain practice in
important practice life-skills with interpersonal skills, following instructions, and self-discipline.
According to Clark and Duwe (2015), life-skill programs built on a cognitive-behavioral
foundation were shown to be significantly more effective in reducing recidivism. A cognitive-
behavioral approach addressed antisocial cognition and promoted skills in prosocial decision-
making (Clark & Duwe, 2015). Additionally, the program targeted maladaptive behaviors,
dysfunctional thinking, social skills, and anger management skills. Through modeling and
consistent reinforcement made this program more was effective in enabling women to improve
in positive behavioral outcomes which also transferred to significantly lowering recidivism

(Clark & Duwe, 2015; Lipsey, Landenberger, & Wilson, 2007; Pearson, Lipton, Cleland, & Yee,
2002).
Current Status of Occupational Therapy in the Prison Setting
Eggers, Muñoz, Sciulli, and Hickerson (2006) noted that occupational therapists in the
United Kingdom and Australia have long addressed helping former offenders successfully
integrate back into society as part of their domain of practice. However, they highlighted the fact
that in the United States occupational therapists are much less frequently employed on the
corrections team (2006). Many states still do not employ occupational therapists (OTs) at all. In
fact, the Utah State Prison does not have an OT on staff. Indeed, occupational therapy is a
slowly growing field in corrections. Prisons across the United States over 90 occupational
therapists are on corrections staffs (Muñoz, Moreton, & Sitterly, 2016). These occupational
therapists focus on treatment interventions to address life-skills in goal setting, problem-solving,
prosocial interpersonal skills, coping strategies, communication, stress management, anger
management, wellness and health, parenting skills, financial literacy, job skills, and personal
management skills (Bush, Glick, & Taymans, 1997; Clark & Duwe, 2015; Muñoz et al, 2016;
Pearson, Lipton, Cleland, & Yee, 2002).
Research shows that engaging incarcerated women in occupation helps them develop
more positive views of themselves that has shown to have a positive impact on their recovery
and may aid in preventing future relapses (Leppard, Ramsay, Duncan, & Malachowski, 2018;
Peloquin & Ciro, 2013). Still, occupational therapy continues to be a needed presence and
perspective in U.S. prisons to provide an occupation-based approach to rehabilitation, treatment,
and education for offenders to make lasting changes and support their ability to successfully
reintegrate back into society.

Summary
Incarcerated women face many challenges affecting their emotional state and difficulty
acquiring and maintaining positive, prosocial relationships. They have learned behaviors such as
heightened impulsivity and learned helplessness which for many have led to becoming entrapped
in addiction. Consequentially, this has resulted to a limited life-skills in personal management in
structuring their routines, completing higher education, maintaining stable employment,
financially literacy, effectively parenting, and engaging in wholesome leisure which has
negatively impacted their self-esteem and decreased their quality of life. Furthermore, women
leave prison poorly equipped to be reintegrated back into society which further perpetuates high
recidivism rates.
Through personally volunteering, observing, and interviewing prison staff, volunteer
clergy, prisoners, mentors, and community rehabilitation staff in conjunction with conducting
this literature review it has become more apparent what specific deficits and challenges
incarcerated women face and how they need to be addressed. Through gaining an inside view
into the world of the women’s prisons, it is apparent there is many group-centered programs
already available to prisoners in areas of personal rehabilitation, counseling, job skills,
continuing education, substance abuse rehabilitation, anger management, public speaking, social
skills, and some life-skills classes. Although, the prison offers life-skill programs, there is still a
lack of individual interventions and application of life-skills that could be implemented into
practice.
An individualized, client-centered approach would be of greater value to prisoners and
the Utah Department of Corrections because it would incorporate professional assessments of
prisoner’s areas for growth and implement a client-centered treatment approach to holistically
address their individual needs by educating them in strategies and skills to become successful
inside and outside of prison. An occupation-based program would target diminishing
impulsivity, maladaptive, antisocial behaviors, while increasing their perseverance, healthy
coping, problem-solving, social skills to overcome learned helplessness. Avenues of intervention
would be centered on specific life-skills training in planning and budgeting wages to pay for
personal expenses she accrues while in prison, engaging in a therapeutic gardening program, and
learning fitness maintenance strategies that will be available regardless of what their lock-down
time is schedule. These programs will serve as the vehicle used to address and practice healthy
patterns and habits of perseverance, problem-solving, and positive social skills that will influence
healthy coping strategies and overcome behaviors of learned helplessness.
This occupation-based program is compatible with both the mission of Epiphany
Fellowship to “help women caught in the cycle of poverty” and to “provide needed educational
opportunities and professional counseling” (SLIHN Epiphany Fellowship, n.d, para. 1).
Additionally, this program is also complementary with the Utah Department of Corrections
mission “to provide maximum opportunities for offenders to make lasting changes through
accountability, treatment, education, and positive reinforcement within a safe environment”, and
further meets their vision to “foster an environment rich in professionalism, compassion,
collaboration, and dedication” (Utah Department of Corrections, 2017, para. 1-2).

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Running Head: LIFE-SKILLS TRANSITION PROGRAM FOR INCARCERATED WOMEN 1

Life-Skills Transition Program for Incarcerated Women

Life-Skills Transition Program for Incarcerated Women

Houses of Healing class participation. Through an occupational therapy perspective based on

Epiphany Fellowship is a faith-based organization led by Reverent Vicki Neumann that is

housing, job training and placement programs, educational opportunities, professional

counseling, and medical assistance to women upon their release.

opportunities, profession counseling, and medical assistance” (Epiphany Fellowship,

children, as the begin their new life.

giving monetary or other gifts to their mentees.

Geographic. Epiphany Fellowship ministers at The Timpanogos Women’s Correctional

dishonesty, manipulation, bullying, intimidation, violence, and co-dependence. “Families” exist

manipulative and co-dependent behaviors.

underground network of stores represents the continuation of anti-social behaviors of not

following rules and using others personal gain and control.

and relationship driven. “Social punishments as the punishment of choice because it is

more social interaction, and events.

also have a family member previously or currently incarcerated.

release (NIJ, 2005).

Their pay scale ranges from $0.40 to $1.60 per hour.

Political. Lowering recidivism is a national concern. In efforts to do this, Utah has

chronically homeless. Additionally, every terminated prisoner is eligible to receive Parolee

a job within 30 days of completing the UDOWD course.

including Asatru, Atheist, Baptist, Buddhist, Catholic, Christian, Islam/Muslim, Jehovah’s

Witness, Jewish, Latter-Day Saint, Lutheran, Methodist, Native American, Pentecostal,

reported below to show the statistics for women as compared to men.

Offender Female Male Total % of Total

Services Provided for Incarcerated Women

supports prisoners in confronting issues of childhood wounding, grieving, managing anger,

(The Lionheart Foundation, 2018).

opportunities to the women including professional counseling, EXCEL a live-in treatment

incarcerated women to successfully transition back into society by providing group-based

paying job and plan on how to live independently.

lead to building successful lives.

a mother-in-law apartment, rental unit, or choose to accept another post-incarcerated woman.

teach them how to address issues specific to women.

life-skills topics that St. Francis of Assisi addresses.

incarcerated women to successfully transition back into society by addressing housing,

employment, transportation, child care, and health care needs.

Programming Strengths and Areas for Growth

Epiphany Fellowship Clergy Perspective

Reverend Perspective. A one-on-one structured interview was conducted with Reverend

Neumann, personal interview, October 24, 2018).

foundational perspective of Epiphany Fellowship is to guide incarcerated women to build upon a

substance abuse counselor, or minister.

accountability through chores, and continue to learn more life-skills.

Pastor Perspective. A one-on-one structured interview was conducted with Pastor

similar program in place to continue the mentorship.

access to classes to explore career opportunities.

Prison Officer Perspective. A one-on-one structured interview was conducted with

remained the same over decades.

their name from the legal system.

Transitional Rehab Center Administration Perspective. A semi-structured informal

interview, October 21, 2018).

Mentor Perspective. One-on-one structured and semi-structured informal interviews

volunteer their time and are committed in their heart.

practice in paying bills, being responsible, and having a hopeful perspective.

they get out of prison.

concerns within prison were:

1. Getting a shower because of the long wait

3. Paying down their debt

4. Making money or trading goods

5. Doing well in their classes