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Justice, Mentoring & Reentry

Effective Support to Help People Rebuild Their Lives

The Vermont Women's Mentoring Program provides powerful support for individuals who are justice-involved, in transition from prison, treatment court, addiction, and/or mental health crises.

Advocating for People with Unmet Needs

We firmly believe in the dignity of every person. People can change their lives for the better and become self-sufficient. This happens in the presence of compassion, support, education, and accountability. Mercy Connections collaborates with many local non-profits, courts, and state government to successfully improve women’s lives and strengthen community. We also advocate and speak to justice issues, such as maternal incarceration, whenever possible.

Vermont Women’s Mentoring Program

Mercy Connections partners with the Vermont Department of Corrections and others to mentor women+ reentering society from the correctional facility. These women face significant barriers finding safe, affordable housing, employment and employment training, staying in recovery and the stigma associated with crime. Many live with significant mental health challenges, are estranged from family and do not have a safety net of friends on which to rely. Mentors become healthy new companions and serve as hosts in seeking out healthy, new ways to spend leisure time and build social capital.

Our mentors come from all walks of life. We provide a 5-week training program and ongoing support. We match mentees and mentors carefully to help ensure a mutually beneficial experience and ask them to meet a minimum of once a month for a year. Our mentors often say the experience is rewarding and life-changing and that they learn a great deal about matters concerning incarceration and restorative justice. Our mentees talk things over with their mentors and seek their support in staying accountable to their goals.

Programs for Women+ in Prison

Mercy Connections offers educational programs to women at the Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility. Many of the same programs are also offered at Mercy Connections so that the women may continue their education after being released from prison.

Date: Wednesdays, February 26 - March 26

Time: 5:30 pm-7:30 pm

Where: In-person at Mercy Connections*

Instructors: Joanne Nelson & Kelly Moran

Description: This program pairs volunteer mentors with justice-involved women (mentees) in order to successfully reestablish their lives post-incarceration.

Volunteer mentors support, coach, and function as new, healthy companions to trauma-affected women facing many challenges. Pairs are carefully matched, and training will provide everyone with the tools they need to be a successful mentor. Mentoring is a year-long commitment.

We welcome all people who identify as women regardless of assignment at birth, transgender, non-binary, gender nonconforming and gender-expansive folks who are comfortable in a woman-centered space to join the training.

* The last session will be held at the Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility (CRCF) from 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm

Registration: Contact Joanne Nelson by email, call 802-846-7164, or sign up by clicking the button below

Registration Deadline: February 25

Description: Staffed by the Justice and Mentoring team, this monthly support group is for mentors who are already paired with a justice-involved woman to ask questions and share experiences in a supportive and confidential environment. Volunteer mentors support, coach, and function as new, healthy companions to trauma-affected women facing many challenges.

Dates/Locations:
January 22, Online
February 19, Online
March 31, in-person at Mercy Connections
April 16, in-person at Mercy Connections
May 21, in-person at Mercy Connections

Time: 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm

Instructors: Joanne Nelson & Kelly Moran

Registration: Open to all mentors

“I know if I was struggling with anything, I could call my mentor and she would do anything she could to help me through it.”

- Tricia, Former Mentee

Learn more and apply for a mentor, or to be a volunteer mentor by contacting Joanne Nelson, Director of Justice and Mentoring, at 802-846-7164

Justice, Mentoring & Reentry

Advocating for People with Unmet Needs

Vermont Women’s Mentoring Program

Programs for Women+ in Prison

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