Our website is currently under construction, but here’s some information about who we are and what we do:
THE PROGRAM for Offenders, Inc. (TPFO) is a nonprofit organization that provides residential alternatives to incarceration, drug and alcohol treatment, and a wide range of support services to male and female offenders in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. TPFO’s mission is to provide supportive services for offenders to give them a second chance and to give their children a first chance. The organization’s goals are to provide services that facilitate the reintegration of offenders into society while reducing the number of offenders returning to criminal behavior; to increase community awareness about the plight of offenders; and to provide programs that strengthen families and deter intergenerational crime.
TPFO is the community corrections pioneer in Allegheny County and since 1976 has partnered with the County to provide high quality services for offenders. TPFO contracts with the Jail to provide residential alternatives to incarceration, is committed to assisting offenders to rebuild their lives and has historically focused on the needs of children and families of the incarcerated. The Allegheny County Jail, Department of Human Services (DHS) and Court of Common Pleas are striving to develop a comprehensive system of services for offenders, pre-trial through post-release, in the areas of substance abuse treatment, reentry, and family reunification. TPFO’s services are aligned with these priorities, are the application of this concept in a community corrections setting, and are supported by the Jail and DHS.
Since its inception, TPFO has worked closely with the criminal justice system to develop and refine a continuum of services that meet the needs of the offender population. The organization is committed to creating an environment of encouragement and accountability that has provided thousands of offenders the opportunity to rebuild their lives and to become self-determining and productive members of the community.
Annually, TPFO serves more than 300 offenders and more than 100 of their children. Our comprehensive services include: residential alternatives to incarceration, inpatient substance abuse treatment, case management, supportive counseling, job search and placement, and family reunification services, which include: life skills and financial literacy education, parenting classes, family therapy, family support groups, family case management, and family activities. In addition, TPFO collaborates with numerous partners in the community to meet the needs of its clients. Case Managers consistently refer clients for outpatient substance abuse treatment, mental health services, health care, housing, advanced education and additional family and employment services. Seventy-six percent (76%) of clients who enter job search secure meaningful employment; 90% of clients who receive treatment reduce their reliance on mood altering substances; 85% of clients who receive family services begin the reunification process with their families; and 80% increase their knowledge of life skills and parenting topics.
TPFO’s wide array of services meets the many needs offenders face today. Research concurs that supervision alone does not change criminal behavior, but that supervision plus programs targeted at the offenders’ needs can do so. It must also be noted that treatment, education and employment are recognized by researchers and practitioners as the most critical factors linked with positive offender outcomes. (Community Corrections, M.C. Lindsay, 2000)
TPFO has consistently had one of the lowest recidivism rates in the nation. A 1995 study performed by the University of Pittsburgh on the agency’s entire service population documents an unparalleled 15% recidivism rate among clients who participate in the agency’s residential alternatives to incarceration. More recently, internal studies of the client population during 2001-2004 have shown that the agency’s clients, who have retained employment for six months or longer, have an average recidivism rate of 3 to 5%. In 2005, the Allegheny County Controllers Office performed an audit of TPFO’s services and found the recidivism rate to be 20% for both the female and male alternative housing facilities. These results are significantly below the federal rate of 67.5% for recidivism (U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics).
TPFO’s clients have needs which are complex and require a wide range of services, some of which TPFO is unable to provide. In order to fully meet these needs, TPFO has established excellent collaborative relationships with many local organizations that provide services designed to enhance opportunities for our clients to succeed. These relationships are a vital aspect of TPFO’s service delivery. They include, but are not limited to: P.O.W.E.R., Alternatives, Inc., Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council, Bethlehem Haven, Community College of Allegheny County, East End Cooperative Ministries, FamilyLinks, Mercy Behavioral Health, Pennsylvania CareerLink, Pittsburgh Action Against Rape, Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force, MonYough Community Services, Veteran’s Leadership Program, and Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic.
THE PROGRAM for Offenders, Inc.
THE PROGRAM’s mission is to provide supportive services for offenders to give them a second chance and to give their children a first chance.
THE PROGRAM’s goals are to provide services that facilitate the reintegration of offenders into society while reducing the number of offenders returning to criminal behavior; to increase community awareness about the plight of offenders; and to strengthen families in order to support children and deter intergenerational crime.
THE PROGRAM’s vision is to expand its community corrections services for women in a collaborative partnership with the public and private sectors.
THE PROGRAM is:
A non-profit organization incorporated in Pennsylvania in 1976.
Unique in its mission, history, range of services, successful outcomes and
commitment to the offender population.
The Community Corrections pioneer in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
A committed staff of professionals experienced in dealing with this very
complex population.
A respected member of the criminal justice community who has established
cooperative relationships with Federal, State and Local jurisdictions, including probation/parole, the Attorney General, the District Attorney, criminal defense lawyers, judges/magistrates, police and correctional institutions.
An experienced partner with other community organizations which provide services
that enhance the opportunities for our clients to succeed. These services include:
housing, mental health care, job skills training, support for sexual abuse victims and
victims of other types of trauma.
An internationally recognized organization providing alternatives to
incarceration, drug and alcohol treatment and other services to both male and
female offenders.
THE PROGRAM’s record and commitment to quality:
Annually, THE PROGRAM provides services for 300 offenders and more than 100 of their children. Seventy-six percent of clients who enter job search secure meaningful employment, 90% of clients who receive treatment reduce their reliance on mood altering substances, 90% of clients who receive family services begin the reunification process with their families and 80% of clients increase their knowledge of parenting and life skills topics.
In addition, THE PROGRAM has one of the lowest recidivism rates in the country. A study commissioned by the University of Pittsburgh documents an unparalleled 15% recidivism rate among clients who participated in the agency’s residential alternatives to incarceration.
THE PROGRAM is currently working with Hide Yamatani, Ph.D., MBA, MSW and Associate Dean for Research, Center on Race and Social Problems, University of Pittsburgh, to conduct an overall evaluation of our services and impact in the community. This is a three year study, which has been underway since January 2009. Dr. Yamatani’s preliminary findings show that TPFO’s recidivism rate is noticeably low (15%), and is associating with other desirable outcomes among families and children.
THE PROGRAM’s services:
Successful reintegration into the community requires that offenders be provided with the tools to become emotionally and economically self-sufficient and able to resolve the problems that led to their involvement with the criminal justice system. THE PROGRAM currently offers the following services to offenders: pre-release services, residential alternatives to incarceration, Pennsylvania-licensed inpatient substance abuse treatment, family services, parenting classes, life skills and financial literacy classes, educational and employment services, case management and supportive counseling. THE PROGRAM has developed stakeholder partnerships to close the gaps in service to offenders and provide mental health care, housing and job skills training among other services.
THE PROGRAM’s funding sources:
Since 1984, THE PROGRAM has maintained contracts with the Allegheny County Jail to provide residential alternative to incarceration services. In addition to these contracts, THE PROGRAM has partnered with the Allegheny County Department of Human Services, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, the City of Pittsburgh, and other government entities, local and national foundations, corporations and the United Way to offer programming to meet the ever-increasing needs of the offender population. THE PROGRAM’s professional and systematic approach to fundraising enhances the rich history of service and relationships with funders that THE PROGRAM has always enjoyed.
THE PROGRAM’s commitment to the future:
THE PROGRAM has a clearly articulated, vision for the future and is committed to providing a continuum of care that meets the needs of a most vulnerable offender population from pre-trial through post- release