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Justice, Mentoring & Reentry
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.
Dates/Locations: Alternating Mondays and Wednesdays from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Monday, June 22 - In-person at Mercy Connections
Wednesday, August 19 - In-person at Mercy Connections
Monday, September 28 - In-person at Mercy Connections
Monday, October 26 - In-person at Mercy Connections
Monday, November 16 - Zoom only
Wednesday, December 16 - Zoom only
Instructors: Joanne Nelson & Kelly Moran
Description: This monthly support group is for mentors paired with justice-involved women to ask questions and share experiences in a supportive and confidential round robin.
Registration: Open to all mentors. Register with Joanne Nelson, jnelson@mercyconnections.org.
Date: Wednesdays, September 30-October 28
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: Select the button below to register online or contact Kelly Moran at kmoran@mercyconnections.org, or call 802-846-7962.
Registration Deadline: Ongoing
Date: Tuesdays, May 5 & 12
Time: Evenings
Facilitators: Heather Gilbert and Kelly
Description: Circle is a supportive experience where people can take time to reflect on peace, hope and healing. Participants may find renewal and gain strength as they listen to and talk about experiences. This is a special time to feel part of a nurturing community and imagine new possibilities.
Registration: Open to CRCF participants only
Description: Participants will learn about “growth mindset” and how to incorporate it into their lives. Through activities and reflections, they will explore how to value their efforts, develop their persistence, embrace challenges and mistakes as opportunities, and grow towards their desired balance of basic needs for love, freedom, power, and fun.
Registration: Open to CRCF participants only.
Description: This course cultivates personal and group reflection of qualities that can be positive forces in our lives and communities. Each week participants will be led through consideration of a particular topic, such as strength, hope, gratitude, and more, in a peaceful space for learning and sharing. Each week also brings a challenge and an opportunity to practice new skills in between classes.
Registration: Open to CRCF participants only.
Description: This workshop series focuses on strengthening communication, resilience, and collaboration in the workplace. Participants will begin by developing greater self-awareness and emotional regulation through a growth-mindset framework, then build practical communication skills for giving and receiving feedback and working effectively together.
The program continues with strategies for navigating conflict and understanding the “hidden rules” that shape interactions, using scenarios to apply learning. It concludes with an exploration of what success looks like, both individually and collectively, emphasizing healthy boundaries, self-care, and sustainable habits.
Registration: Open to CRCF participants only.
Description: Participants will discover what motivates them and create a vision of their life. This workshop will encourage participants to learn how creativity can expand one’s potential to adapt, grow and move forward.
Registration: Open to CRCF participants only.
Description: Find inspiration and great discussion at this drop-in community building program. Participants will watch a brief TED Talk or other thought-provoking videos and then engage in a facilitated discussion of the ideas presented.
Registration: Open to CRCF participants only.
“My mentor’s support doesn’t waiver and it is not contingent upon anything!”
- Current Mentee
Learn more and apply for a mentor, or to be a volunteer mentor by contacting Kelly Moran, Director of Justice and Mentoring, at 802-846-7962.