The mission of Virginia CARES — or the Virginia Community Action Re-Entry System — is to assist newly released ex-offenders and their families successfully transition from prison back into their communities.
It is a charitable mission that helps with emergency needs first — and then helps the client become self-sufficient by obtaining employment. Virginia CARES provides food, clothing, transportation, and shelter, guidance for job interviews and leads, and referrals to other agencies to ensure an easier transition for everyone.
Virginia CARES is a new program associated with New River Community Action. “Virginia CARES (Community Action Re-Entry System) is a heralded statewide network of Community Action Agencies (CAAs) formed to address the successful reentry and de-institutionalization of felons in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
The agency presently operates pre-release programs in 24 prisons and 9 local jails, as well as post-release programs in 50 Virginia localities, which receive the largest numbers of parolees. Since 1981 Virginia CARES has worked with more than 70,000 felons with a proven record of recidivist reduction.”
According to the Department of Justice, one in every 100 U.S. residents is in the prison system. In 2019, a total of 298,819 individuals were released from incarceration. This includes 12,602 individuals released from Virginia prisons and 284,217 released from local jails. 93% percent of all Virginia CARES participants statewide do not return to prison, saving Virginia taxpayers millions of dollars annually.
New River Community Action initiated this program because we saw the challenges of ex-offenders transitioning back to Montgomery, Pulaski, Floyd, Giles, and Radford.
We can partner with other agencies to enhance services for the ex-offender population because Virginia CARES is housed in the New River Community Action sites in Radford and Pulaski.
Montgomery County Emergency Assistance Program and the New River Family Shelter are two of the NRCA partner agencies that collaborate with Virginia CARES. With all the agencies working together, the Virginia CARES staff makes contacts within the community for employment opportunities, employment tools, housing, and general donations.
VA CARES holds ex-offender monthly groups and training across the New River Valley. We’re solving the immediate needs of our clients by providing vouchers for public transportation, paying for identification costs, providing housing referrals, GED class expenses, books, and financial assistance for college classes and food.
The Virginia CARES program has reduced recidivism and saved taxpayer dollars. We appreciate your support in making this program a success in the New River Valley.
VA CARES Office
Staff congratulate Bill Norris on winning the Cindy Martin State Award