REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY 

Activities and State of the Program:
The state of the faith & character-based initiative at Wakulla Correctional Institution is excellent and improving. Warden John Hancock and leadership staff are dedicated to the success of this pioneering effort. Chaplain Steve Fox and Education Director Bob Theis have worked to establish a broad range of program activities and build a sustained community volunteer support team that is an integral part of this very special prison.  It is our hope and intention that many prisons in Florida may be organized and administered in a similar manner to achieve better success in the Florida correctional system.  Horizon Communities in Prisons staff work inside the prison and in the community to help further the mission of the Wakulla Faith & Character facility.   

1)  The Horizon Computer Lab continues with three classes a day, Monday through Thursday. Presently a basic 20 hour computer literacy program is provided. Many inmates have never used a computer at all. Others have various levels of computer skill. Inmate computer tutors provide essential assistance in the lab under the direction of Horizon staff and community volunteers.
 
2) Horizon sponsors Small Business Concepts classes that are developed and facilitated by inmates with particular experience and talents in this basic subject area.  Ten classes of 25 students meet once a week for 15 weeks for the basic course in which each student learns how to create a personal business plan and proceeds to develop and present his plan to the class.  Short course seminars are sponsored in subject areas related to personal and business success. Horizon provides materials and volunteer support for this powerful and popular program.

3) Quest is a basic life skills program sponsored by Horizon to empower inmates in areas of wise choices, anger management and parenting from prison.  Like the computer lab and the small business classes, Quest relies on volunteer support combined with trained inmate facilitators to help establish an environment of responsibility and learning inside the prison. For Quest eight groups of six men meet two evenings each week for 10 weeks.

4) An area of unmet need is education and training in the constructions trades. Horizon will continue to communicate with Workforce and Tallahassee Community College to bring needed programs inside. We will also explore the alternative possibility of using volunteers and skilled inmate facilitators to establish a quality building trades education initiative.

5) Each month Horizon News of the Month is published for the benefit of the prison staff, inmates and the volunteer community to provide information and schedules for.all programs and activities at WCI available to inmates to further the goals and mission of the faith and character-based facility.  

6) The monthly Horizon volunteer steering committee is convened at noon on the second Wednesday each month at the Center for Biblical Studies in Tallahassee. We have been meeting for the past 5 years to support the faith & character-based initiative of the Department of Corrections and it continues to be a privilege and a blessing for all of us bring our best efforts and time to this important work. ALL ARE WELCOME AT THE STEERING COMMITTEE MEETINGS. There are a variety of opportunities for community volunteers.

7) Governor Crist and key leaders in the Legislature support the faith- and character-based initiative in corrections and the work of Horizon Communities in Prisons to help link community volunteers and prisons in a sustained, positive program to strengthen corrections, further public safety and help successful transition from prison to community.

With thanks and respect,

Horizon Communities in Prisons

Bob Travis   (850) 294-2890  robertltravis@aol.com

Hugh MacMillan  (850) 321-7071 (850) 222-5155  hughmacmillan@earthlink.net 
2245 S. Monroe St., Tallahassee, FL 32301
The Sara and John Edward Smith Building

Faith- and Character-Based Institutions

Volunteer Information

Volunteer Application

Policy Statement

Programs

Prison Mentoring

DOC Procedure 560.032 Faith & Character-based Institution

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News of the Month
including Education & Chapel Schedules

Horizon Communities in Prisons
Horizon Communities in Prisons seeks to prepare prisoners to live responsibly with others.

Horizon Communities in Prisons Web Link
http://horizoncommunities.org