Corrections to Community

(C2C)

    Corrections to Community is a transitional support program for Aboriginal offenders leaving the corrections environment and returning to the community. It was conceptualized as a holistic approach to support societal re-entry based on the traditional values and principles of Native culture.  This progressive program as designed by the primary authors of the Mind Body Spirit (MBS) program (Martell, Brintnell, Makokis and Smallacombe, 2003), has three major elements:  a Mind, Body, Spirit workshop, the assignment of a designated transitional support worker and connection with a community service agency. The program’s intent is that through the use of MBS concepts, participants will develop a personal reference for support to be drawn on in preparation for release and during the transitional period. The latter is a time for developing community living skills through a mentoring process with the designated transitional worker.  The last element is predicated on creating a virtual safe environment within the actual community by connecting with a partner agency (non- governmental organization) or actual service within a First Nation community.  The current program (2008) is a partnership between the University of Alberta’s Occupational Performance Analysis Unit (OPAU), the Psychology Department of the Fort Saskatchewan Correction Centre and the Bissell Centre Edmonton.

Fort Saskatchewan Correctional Centre