Take One

WHAT IS TAKE ONE?

Take One is an innovative, faith-based program that connects churches and other non-profit organizations from across Tennessee with returning citizens.  There are numerous churches, mosques, synagogues and other non-profit organizations involved in this program.  Each organization agrees to mentor one incarcerated offender as well as his/her family to provide support, encouragement, and guidance during the transition from incarceration to community for one year.  The match process begins 6 to 12 months before the offender is released from incarceration.  We strongly believe that community involvement and positive people providing support, guidance, and encouragement to released offenders make Tennessee a better and safer place to live.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Take One seeks to have individual organizations agree to mentor just one returning offender and his/her family for a period of one year. The idea is that faith-based and non-profit organizations can provide a level of support, encouragement, and guidance that could be the difference between a successful transition home or a return to prison resulting in more victimization.

STATISTICS

Statistics show that 97% of offenders currently incarcerated in Tennessee will return home one day. Within three years of their release, 46% will be rearrested and return to prison or jail. Take One seeks to lower those recidivism numbers and reduce victimization.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

After an incarcerated offender is identified, members of his/her sponsoring organization will begin meeting with them while they are preparing to come home (up to one year before release.) During this period before release, other members of the sponsoring organization will begin working with the family members (if appropriate.) After release, the sponsoring organization will be positive role models for returning offenders and their families.

WHAT WE ARE DOING

We are constantly working to improve programming but what we know is that we cannot provide everything returning offenders need after they leave prison. Many offenders complete their sentence and are not subject to community supervision nor are they able to access treatment, educational or other resources. This has led our agency to seek the help of citizens all across the state.

We will provide training to all organizations, as well as support groups through Tennessee Reentry Collaborative (TREC), local community supervision offices, steering committee and local community resource board members.

THE GOAL OF TAKE ONE

The goal of our statewide steering committee and the TDOC is to have at least 50 organizations committed to taking returning offenders in each of the three regions of the state in the first year.

HOW YOU CAN HELP?

We are simply asking any faith-based or non-profit organizations who might be interested to complete an application.  Instructions on how to submit the application are included in the application.

For additional information, click to view our Take One brochure.