Samaritan Women

Community AfterCARE Resources

"Assisting Ex-Inmates to live Godly lives."

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of organization is Samaritan Women?

Samaritan Women is a non-profit, faith-based ministry established in October of 1999 for the sole purpose of helping women getting out of jail or prison to change their lives, to break the cycle of crime by making choices that will fulfill God’s purpose for them in their families and communities.

How does Samaritan Women accomplish their mission?

The ministry has several levels of ministry, designed to meet the individual needs of the women. The Center, located at 4840 N. First Street, Suite 110, is designated as a meeting place where all of the activities are organized and from which all administration operates.  In an adjacent suite there is a classroom, a lounge, and an administration office. At this facility many classes are held geared to meet the needs of the members of each class.  Counseling and support occurs here with individuals on a personal basis.  The TLC Home, located one and one-half blocks away from the Center, is a home equipped for up to six women.  Here under supervision, they learn many skills in Christian living, home making, health, grooming, and preparation for employment.  Their length of occupancy is determined by each individuals need.  Many women are mentored and encouraged through correspondence, phone calls and personal contact.

How is Samaritan Women funded?

Samaritan Women relies on ongoing contributions from churches as well as individuals.  We have also benefited from grant providers such as United Way.  Services organizations such as Rotary and Kiwani’s have also been very helpful to us, helping to provide funding for various projects.

How is this program different from others that are available?

This program is based strictly upon the woman’s voluntary involvement after she has been incarcerated either in jail or prison at some point in her life.  It is not a program that she can be sentenced to in place of doing time.  Not all women come directly to us for help.  It may be that they have tried and failed on their own or in other programs before they were serious about changing their lives. It is based upon the belief that true change is established in a woman’s life only as she trusts in the power of Christ to transform her and is open to direction.

Who can take part in the services offered at Samaritan Women?

All women coming out of jail or prison are encouraged to take part in the opportunities available at Samaritan Women.   

Is your program a drug treatment program?

No, ours is a place where women can learn communication, parenting and life skills in a positive and loving environment.  There are other programs that do provide drug treatment in which we will refer women when needed.  What we have seen is that often women have taken drug treatment, however, fail because they don’t know “how to make it in life” outside the program due to the lack of life skills needed to live independently and to contribute to their community.

How long is your program?

It takes time to change.   Just as it took a long time to develop destructive habits, so there are no quick fixes to complex problems in the women’s lives and often then affecting their children as well.   Many of our women come get involved, having their basic needs addressed.  Then case management helps them make a long range plan to become independent.  This may include taking some classes or referrals to take care or health needs or gaining job skills.  It is all based on the individual’s needs, abilities and desire to change.  It is our desire to see women come on a regular basis, more at the beginning and then return as peer mentors to help those who are just getting started.  There is no time to stop one’s involvement at Samaritan Women.

How much does it cost to come to your program?

We have made the cost of the program affordable -- FREE in dollars.  To succeed, it takes a lot of hard work.  We like to say the payment we seek is to see you succeed.  Money can’t buy that.  Too often women have failed to complete the court required classes of parenting, anger management, or domestic violence because they did not have the money to take the class and became discouraged by the obstacles or were violated while on probation or parole for this reason and returned to custody.

Is your program strictly a live-in, residential program or out-patient program?

Women have individual needs.  In an attempt to address their needs we provide most individuals, such as women living in their own housing and with their children, with outpatient services.  Others are seeking safe housing and are committed to making a serious life change, are putting God first in their life and desire life skills.  Our TLC Home is for up to six women.  The women may have visits from their children; however, their children, if in their custody, are cared for by others so they can focus on their needs first.  We do ask a six-month commitment for those wanting to enter our home as a resident.  They can stay as long as two years while they first adapt to society, learn life skills and then gradually take on jobs, job training or college before moving out on their own.

What do you charge for living in your TLC Home?

We seek to have women learn to become financially independent but realize they often have no financial resources when they are first starting.  We want our women to be able to pay their own way by doing work at the Center and the home, to not only learn skills but to benefit Samaritan Women by working with dignity as part of the team.  Part of their financial training at the home is to be provided money to manage for food and necessities.  When they do find employment, they divide the earnings to tithe; financial obligations they have incurred such as fines, restitution, past unpaid debts, or child support; saving part of the earnings for their future; and finally a portion is given back to Samaritan Women to assist with their living expenses.  

Can you work and/or attend school while living at the TLC Home?  

After the first couple of months of adjustment and basic life skills, women are encouraged to either further their education or gain employment, preparing them for financial independent living.  When women are working, we help them put money away for their future as well as learning financial responsibility by paying past debts and current living expenses. 

What are some of the typical needs and problems that a woman who has been released from jail/prison has to face?

The ex-inmate has not only current issues with a loss of self esteem, but also life long issues related to low self esteem. She also has critical immediate needs related to income, housing, custody of children, parenting support and skills, as well as vocational and social skills.  All of these needs are addressed as soon as is practical and possible. 

What is the difference between implementing a program for women and developing a helpful relationship with a woman?

A tremendous difference…….Implementing a program is putting into operation or action a plan that will provide for the needs of each woman.  Positive relationships are the core of what she needs, but she may not see that for awhile. She may also be very distrustful of any relationship. In developing safe relationships in the environment provided at Samaritan Women, she learns after a period of time to tell the difference between a healthy relationship and the ones she has known that have been destructive. She learns how to function within healthy boundaries in a safe, loving environment where she is pursuing carefully planned out personal goals.

Is there hope for a chronic offender?

Yes, many of the women who have completed their recovery at Samaritan Women have been life time offenders with repeated incarcerations and now are living successful, independent lives.

Why can't parents and other family members take care of the needs of the woman who has been incarcerated?

A lot of our women have never seen or been part of a healthy family with positive role models.  Too often others in their cycle of influence are living a negative lifestyle.  If they do have positive family, often they have been lied to, hurt and/or used so that they have much mistrust and mending of fences before the relationships can be restored.  Very few families may be able to really help because there has been a dysfunctional relationship with the family or friends that has contributed to the problems the woman is experiencing.

Why can't the church take care of their needs through their traditional programming? 

We believe that the church does need to reach out and help.  However, many do not know how nor do they have the expertise or resources to specialize in this type of ministry.  Other barriers may be that people are fearful of those who have been incarcerated and/or people who have been incarcerated may at first feel they don’t fit, or won’t be accepted.  That is why it is important to have a safe place for them to start out and find acceptance and then to hopefully find a church where they can become a part of and grow as well as serve others. At Samaritan Women, we are a place to help people of the community and the ex-inmate learn to know and relate at our Center about each other and develop a relationship.

Large churches with trained people could do a lot……that depends upon the mission statement of the church and what they desire to do with their resources. Small churches are not to be excluded, but their resources all around are limited.

We have been conditioned by our culture to want to see quick results to problems. How can we tell if the life changes women make will last?

The kind of changes a woman is expected to make and put into practice in this program cannot be made unless a woman is sincere. Within the framework of growing relationships, any woman who stays with the program will experience significant success.

Do you know on an average how many "attempts" to change it takes before a woman really gets serious about changing her life?

This varies a lot.  In this segment of the population, we can expect that a woman may make many attempts before she is successful in implementing positive change in her life. This also depends upon the quality of help she receives, her willingness to change her lifestyle, as well as her ability to follow through and be responsible.

The level of hostility a woman may have will factor into the number of attempts she may have to make before she experiences success. Also the sensitivity of the volunteer and/or staff member in her responsiveness to the woman will also factor into how successful she is in implementing change in her life.

If I volunteer my time how safe will I be?

In this life we will never be able to avoid all risks.  However, serving the Lord at Samaritan Women is no riskier than any other of life’s routines. We have had no problems relating to safety.

If I volunteer my time will I be at risk health-wise?

We have not encountered any significant health problems with our staff or volunteers that can be attributed to working with the women.

How does investing some time with a preschooler really help his/her mom?

Moms need time to work on their own issues while their children are cared for in positive ways. By also spending time as well as providing a place for moms and children to interact away from negative influences, moms can begin to implement positive relational changes with their children. By observing staff and volunteers responding to their children’s challenging behaviors in constructive and caring ways, moms can choose to change their own responses to their children, increasing the likelihood of developing a healthy and nurturing relationship with their child. This minimizes the child’s potential to drift into his own pattern of destruction or dysfunction.

How will I know that I am not just being "used", that I really am making a difference?

In general, you may not know. However, noticing the growth/lack of growth in self esteem is a powerful indicator……when people and children begin to truly value themselves, they want life to be better for themselves and can expect others to treat them better.

If I am willing to give 2-3 hours a week will I be “pressured” to give more time?

No. We appreciate the time and talents our volunteers provide. We realize that volunteers have other obligations and opportunities. Time committed to help can always be changed for vacations. We believe that God will provide for our needs and one should not feel guilty when needs or plans change.