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Jail Based Recovery Programs

Bringing the hope of authentic peer-to-peer addiction recovery to incarcerated individuals.

VRR Project

Virginia Recovery & Re-Entry Project

The Virginia Recovery and Re-Entry (VRR) Project aims to serve individuals with Substance Use Disorders from incarceration through the re-entry process with an authentic, peer-to-peer approach to recovery. The project exists as a result of a matching grant awarded to The McShin Foundation in 2018 from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)’s Building Communities of Recovery initiative. 


With these funds, two new recovery jail programs began in Riverside Regional Jail and Rappahannock Shenandoah Warrenton (RSW) Regional Jail. McShin Foundation staff and volunteers facilitate recovery support services five days a week in RSW and three days a week in Riverside. As part of McShin’s financial match, following participation in these programs, the grant offers residential recovery program scholarships to twenty individuals to receive recovery support services through The McShin Foundation in Richmond. 


VRR uses a wide variety of resources to enhance and promote long-term recovery support networks and services. Key project goals include: Helping those incarcerated with SUDs have a better sustainable recovery outcome when released from incarceration; Educating participants about recovery, addiction, and life skills development, building a foundation of recovery knowledge and coping skills upon re-entry; Providing housing in a peer run recovery house for participants; Providing wrap-around support services, based on an individualized needs assessment, such as job training, peer-to-peer recovery coaching, and family programming; and engaging participants in recovery citizenship. These are achieved through Peer Recovery Support Services (PRSS) delivered by those in recovery, and non-clinical RSS that provides direct assistance along with a continuum of customized services and supports.


The hope of VRR is to combat Substance Use Disorders, deliver access to authentic recovery support services, and ultimately reduce recidivism for individuals actively seeking recovery.


Click here for a look at the VRR Project
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Overview

The McShin Foundation delivers authentic peer developed recovery-oriented systems of care for those incarcerated needing recovery from substance use disorders in several Virginia correctional facilities. The primary focus of these programs is to provide hope and recovery to those who need it through continued personal contact from successful recovering people.

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Current Jail Programs

The McShin Foundation currently works with:

  • Pamunkey Regional Jail in Hanover, VA
  • Rappahannock Shenandoah Warren (RSW) Regional Jail in Front Royal, VA
  • Award-winning “Get In The Herd” Podcast delivered to Henrico County Jail every Tuesday evening
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Program Structure

Six months in one of The McShin Foundation Jail-Based Recovery Programs will allow for someone incarcerated to experience a true Recovery Oriented System of Care (ROSC). The cycle includes a 40-hour certification, 90 recovery or motivational videos, 200 speaker DVD’s, outside guests and speakers, daily schedule of activities and an appropriate transition following the completion of the six month cycle.

Statistics

From Pamunkey Regional Jail (program start date: January 5, 2015): Since the inception of The McShin Foundation program, around 193 male and female inmates have participated in the program. Over the last two years, the inmates who participated in the program were tracked to determine if any had recidivated by returning to Pamunkey Regional Jail or any other jail within the state of Virginia. The following statistics were gathered from the jails’ records management system, JailTracker, and the Department of Corrections inmate management system, LIDS-CORIS: The PRJ recidivism rate for the McShin program is approximately 31% compared to 53% across the entire jail population. The percentage of The McShin Foundation program inmates who did not recidivate was 69% to PRJ and 66% to statewide facilities.

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Testimonials

In late January, a young guy came into the general population pod and started telling his story (only it was my story). There was someone else just like me. As he talked, I watched him. He smiled and laughed and told how he came to get where he was. I knew at that moment I wanted what he had. The next day I was moved to the McShin pod. It was structured. We had speakers come in to share their experiences in strength and hope. I applied for a scholarship. I thought I’d get it, but I didn’t think I’d get let out of jail to go to Richmond. I’m pretty sure that God knew I was serious this time because I got a bond. I’ve been at the McShin R.C.O. since March 29th, 2019. I’ve learned to listen, help and give back.

Lisa M.

While incarcerated and awaiting trial, I met Hannah Newsome a former staff member for the McShin Foundation who facilitated the Riverside Regional Jail volunteer Substance Use Disorder classes. Hannah began to share with me her experiences. Hannah not only shared her experiences she also brought materials and DVDs showing people who were successful in long-term recovery [...] The material and information she would share helped to explain the purpose of the peer-to-peer concept and alternate pathways to recovery. For the first time I heard the words Hope Dealer. Not knowing fully understanding what these words meant and their true value I suspected that they were giving me my first glimpse of real hope for my situation.

Frank L.

My time at the McShin recovery pod in RSW Regional Jail was a blessing, and I could not have asked for a better learning opportunity during my incarceration. Today, I have the desire to help others. I know that through compassion and empathy, I and many others like me can find a new, more fulfilling way of life. I wish to pay it forward; I wish to help others the way SAMHSA and The McShin Foundation have helped me. I am grateful for my life today and excited about my future. I have found a new belief and a new purpose: to show the same kindness to others that was so generously shown to me.

Nicholas M.

Call us today to get started on your road to recovery.

(804) 249-1845

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