CRTF Monthly Meetings

MT Community Reentry Coalition (MTCRC)ZOOM Meeting Notes

Wednesday, February 12th, 2025

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Next meeting: ...Future 2024 Zoom Meetings: 3rd Wednedays, March, May, July, September, November ...

watch for invite email from Chelsea!

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MT Community Reentry Coalition (MTCRC)

ZOOM Meeting Notes

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 *MTCRC Website: www.montanacommunityreentrycoalition.org

 

​ *MT Community Reentry Coalition Mini- Conference: Billings, Thurs. Oct.30, at end of MBCC,

 

Updates from State DOC

Dir. Gootkin:

Positive bipartisan response so far from Legislature on securing funding for new prison facilities in Montana. Sending folks out of state is NOT desirable. Plans going forward to build two additional units (low side) in the men's prison and potentially a new women's prison, location TBD as current location is not as workable. The current MWP could serve as a jail hold for state prisoners, freeing up county space. Yellowstone County is facing significant challenges due to high crime rates and overcrowding in their jail.

 

Renee Seiler-McDaniels, Community Ambassadors for Change (CAC)

· CAC members took a winter break, back scheduling visits to all facilities in 2025.

· 12 members have been trained in WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan) as a tool to assist inmates in managing stress effectively. They will be training MSP staff first so they will understand what inmates ar learning, then inmates next.

· CAC also now presents to all new DOC staff hires.

· CAC will work on coordinating a CAC presentation with a Reentry Simulation Event in the same community for the general public.

 

Jessi Westerhold: Overview of Desistance and Innovation Team Formation

· New Desistance position highlights the need for a shift in from measuring recidivism—return to prison, to a focus on DOS’s success in supporting reentry and reintegration into the community.Desistance involves ensuring that individuals leaving state care are successful and do not return. This requires addressing various factors such as housing and employment, education and training. Recidividsm metrics need to be reframed to focus on reintegration rates.

· She invited coalition members to partner with DOC in suggesting more data sources.

 

Questions for Dir. Gootkin

· Pre-Release Facility and Women's Prison Relocation

David Young asked about the opening date for the new Pre-Release facility in Kalispell,\

Decision is expected after the County meeting on March 5th.

 

· Addressing Bottlenecks in Reentry Programs

Christine Reynolds highlighted issues with the bottleneck in moving individuals from county jails to Pre-Release centers, suggesting it leads to out-of-state transfers. Brian explained that a placement team has been created to address this issue, and new facilities being developed, including the 80-bed Pre-Release center in Kalispell, expanding Arcadia in Butte, will overcrowding in jails. He emphasized the importance of community involvement in the reentry process.

 

· Alternatives to Pre-Release?

Gootkin’s response is that the current PreRelease facilities have had a monopoly with no competition. DOC is opening Kalispell PreRelease to demonstrate a best practices approach and Aal PreRelases will have to respond to RFPs setting uniform expectations. ‘

· MSP Visits for Reentry Interviews

Ann Miller, CSKT Reentry Program, asked for guidance on process for visitng MSP to interview potential returning ctizens; unclear who to talk to, arrange for background checks.

 

Updates on Community Reentry Programs and Issues

· Medicaid Expansion

Gary Mihelish shared positive news regarding Medicaid expansion reauthorization; hearings were encouraging, has passed House. , indicating that recent hearings were encouraging. David Young asked Willy Johnson about the Montana reentry program, which is currently in its early stages and features a new website outlining its vision for the next five years. Willy mentioned that they are actively involved in weekly prison visits and are working on restructuring their mentoring approach.

 

· Hope Ministries Progress

Lutisha McFarland shared that the Ronan Center is set to open on June 30th, Mallory Hinkins hired to assist with admissions. Men’s Center in Butte undergoing renovations and has a waiting list of 14, while the Women's Center in Clancy has expanded to accommodate 38 resident

 

· Public Listing of SVOR Workplaces

Colin McKearnan raised concerns about the new legislative requirement to list publicly the workplaces of individuals on the sexual and violent offender registry, damaging employers as well as further stigmatizing returning citizens.

 

· Prison Seminary Plans:

David Young shared plans for a new seminary program at Montana State Prison, collaborating with Kairos University and the Montana Department of Corrections.

 

· MT Reentry Program, Billings

Willy Johnson reported that there’s a new website, new leadership & vision for reentry. Team is making weekly MSP visits(lowside) and Alpha House in Billings. No visits currently to MWP.

 

· Christine Reynolds expressed concerns about the name "Montana Reentry," indicating it may mislead people into thinking it covers all reentry programs in the state, noto just Billings. A suggestion that their website include a link to the MTCRC Website for “Information about reentry programs in other cities or regions will be considered.

 

· Volunteer Appreciation Event

Monty Christenson asked about DOC approval for renewing this event at the old Territorial Prison Yard in Deer Lodge. All volunteers at DOC state facilities, not just MSP, would be invited. Plans include food trucks, music, tours of old prison.. Private funding for organizing, logistics. Possible dates discussed were May or July 2025. Brian said it’s approved.

 

· Phased Supervision and Case Management Challenges

Jana Staton asked for information about the phased supervision initiative and its relevance to reentry efforts. Jessi from MTDOC explained that the initiative involves assessing individuals entering supervision and gradually reducing their supervision levels. The goal is to address and reduce case overloads at P&PO, freeing up staff time for those most in need of oversight.

 

· Discussion on Mental Illness and Systemic Challenges

Gary Mihelish shared concerns about the mental illness treatment system in Montana, stating that despite changes over the years, conditions for those affected have not improved. He emphasized the struggles of families dealing with mental illness and criticized the system's inability to provide adequate support. Rosebud Madinger raised questions about the understanding of trauma in relation to mental illness, suggesting that trauma resolution could be a key area of focus.

Action Items

Christine Reynols is working to fix access to MT Community Reentry Coalition website from search engines. Direct link www.montanacommunityreentrycoalition.org works fine. Please check on your program listing at the “Reentry Programs” button. Send new program information to Christine: valleyfelonaid@gmail.com

 

Ryan Clubb will facilitate the first training for the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) tool on March 5th & 6th.

 

Brian Goodkin will provide updates on new PreRelease Center in Kalispell after Flathead County meeting on March 5th.

 

Monty Christensen will coordinate a Volunteer Appreciation Event at the Old Territorial Prison yard and will seek assistance from others in the community.

 

Jessi Westerhold will prepare a visual summary of the phased supervision process to share with the group.

 

Jana Staton will compile meeting notes and distribute them, along with upcoming dates for the Recovery Residence Alliance of Montana calls.

 

Attendees

DOC Director Brian Gootkin, DOC

Renee Seiller-McDaniel, DOC Customer

Jessi Westerhold, Desistance Coordinator

 

Community

Dave Young, Bozeman, Convenor

Jana Staton, Missoula PFR, Co-Convenor

Mike Karpeles, Salvation Army Intermountain Div. Gary Mihelish, NAMI, Helena

Chelsea Wittmann, Justice Initiative Coord. Msla Co. Community Justice Dept.

Christine Reynolds, Valley Felon-Aid, Ravalli County

Jenny Daniel, Msla Co. Community Justice Dept.

Ann Miller, CSKT Holistic Defenders

Shauna Johnson, DLI, Registered Apprenticeships

Tyron LaFontain, Behavioral Health Peer Support, Great Falls

Colin McKearnan, Missoula Works, Missoula Interfaith Collaborative (MIC

Ashley Umbaugh, Recovery Dir., Greater Impact, Bozeman

Monty Christenson, Prison Impact Ministries, Kalispell

Leah Wetzel, DPHHS, Recovery Services Specialist

Josh Ca;houn, CSKT Holistic Defenders

Ryan Club, Adult & Teen Challenge, Billings

Willy Johnson, MT Reentry, Billings

Rob Lawler, DPHHS, Faith & Community Coordinator

Heather James, Post-Sentencing Support, Msla Municipal Court

Rosebud Madinger, Native Women’s Reentry, Billings

Amy Sings in the Timber, MT Innocence Project

Lutisha McFarland, Admissions, Hope Center

Jake Lapke, Statewide Drug Court Coordinator

Stepahie Taylor, Prison Fellowship

Colin McKearnan, MissoulaWorks, MIC

Amber Lamb, Dept. of Labor & Industry