Gemeinschaft Home 1

Brief overview of the nonprofit organization and its mission statement

Established in 1985, Gemeinschaft Home began as a residential, transitional facility for

individuals who had been released from incarceration and had a probation obligation with the

Virginia Department of Corrections (DOC). While we have maintained our re-entry program for

ex-offenders for the past three decades, Gemeinschaft Home has expanded into an innovative

nonprofit organization, offering both residential and non-residential programs.

Gemeinschaft Home values a community that gives individuals an opportunity to uphold

respect, integrity, and accountability, thereby influencing positive growth. The staff strives to

foster a therapeutic program curriculum and a supportive community for all program

participants. Interventions at Gemeinschaft come in two primary forms: group and individual

counseling. Both are accompanied by case management. Our curriculum is routinely updated and

now consists of group and individual sessions covering 10 key areas of life recovery, which

range from self-awareness to professionalism.

Our programs also includes a strong case management component, with regular drug and

alcohol screening, case plan development and implementation, as well as referrals to local,

community-based services, including mental health and substance abuse treatment. These

components of our organization align with our mission statement and our dedication “to

providing cutting edge therapeutic services to nonviolent offenders who have been released or

diverted from incarceration in support of a transition to healthy community living” (Appendix

A).

Need Statement

Stigma influences public perceptions of incarcerated individuals beyond their release

date. Little quantitative research is available on the public’s perceptions of incarcerated

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individuals, but studies have shown that communities’ responses to incarcerated individuals

significantly affects their inclusion in vital social and economic functions. Virginia has the eighth

highest incarceration rate in the United States, implying a significant value in its communities’

responses. Presently, the Commonwealth of Virginia’s response to its shocking incarceration rate

suggests a lack of concern with its one re-entry, residential program that incorporates therapy

influenced by restorative justice theories.

Target Population

Gemeinschaft Home currently offers services to individuals from all areas of the

Commonwealth of Virginia, with a central focus on Harrisonburg and Rockingham County. The

proposed program reaches a new population that would include students of local institutions of

higher education. The program’s efforts center around informing students of the circumstances

of our residents, explaining the restorative justice that Gemeinschaft Home promotes, and

fostering a sense of familiarity between students and residents. The ultimate target population of

the program consists of both students and the individuals who qualify for our services. The

program would indirectly affect the rest of the local community as evidence of a greater positive

presence and outreach efforts with local students within the community gains visibility.

Program Objectives and Narrative

The proposed program is an outreach program that is designed to develop positive

relationships with local institutions of higher education. Students’ current perceptions of

Gemeinschaft Home and its service recipients have no formal influence by the organization

itself. The outreach program would utilize three intervention methods to attempt to foster a sense

of community between the service recipients at Gemeinschaft Home and local students: Design a

digital presentation of Gemeinschaft Home for presentations in classes and university clubs; Host
Gemeinschaft Home 3

an event on the property of Gemeinschaft Home to welcome students to the environment while

providing useful information; Design, print, and distribute relevant brochures for students or

other prospective volunteers.

In an attempt to match the fluidity of college schedules, the program will include

continuous efforts to foster awareness and interest in the rotating pool of students at each school.

The items necessary for the intervention methods need to be secured or produced on an equally

fluid schedule as campus visits and events are scheduled (Appendix B). Data collection will take

place throughout the college terms as service-learning programs and volunteer efforts are

enacted. Below are two major goals of this outreach program that will develop the community

presence necessary to address the systemic biases and stigma that contribute to uncertainty of

contributing to Gemeinschaft Home’s mission.

Goal 1: Develop positive relationships with local colleges and universities within a 50-mile

radius of Gemeinschaft Home.

Process Objectives:

1A. To host a college fair (College Day) at Gemeinschaft Home once a semester to promote

familiarity with the population among students by May 2, 2019.

2A. To produce a digital presentation and design a professional poster about the organization

to be shown at James Madison University, Eastern Mennonite University, Blue Ridge

Community College, and Bridgewater College by May 2, 2019.

3A. To design and print 500 relevant brochures and flyers to distribute at campus locations

during presentations and student events by May 2, 2019.

4A. To partner with JMU’s Community Service-Learning to improve students’ access to

Gemeinschaft Home by May 2, 2019.

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Outcome Objectives:

5A. One-third of students who participate in a service-learning class will increase their

knowledge about Gemeinschaft Home and its offered services by 50% as evidenced by

survey results by May 2, 2019.

6A. Gemeinschaft Home will experience a 30% increase in volunteer interest as a result of

one campus visit per learning institution per semester by May 2, 2019.

7A. At least 51% of residents will display and express increased levels of comfort with

volunteers from higher education institutions as evidenced by responses in qualitative

interviews by May 2, 2019.

Goal 2: Establish a greater community presence.

Process Objectives:

1B. To share photos from College Day and campus visits at community events and

Gemeinschaft Home’s social media pages to increase public awareness of Gemeinschaft Home’s

accessibility and safety by May 2, 2019.

2B. To distribute volunteer brochures to related service agencies to increase accessibility for

prospective volunteers by May 2, 2019.

Outcome Objective:

3B. Local Rockingham County and Harrisonburg City donors to Gemeinschaft Home will

increase by 50% as evidenced by recorded donation logs by May 2, 2019.

4B. Service referrals from other local Rockingham County or Harrisonburg City service

agencies will increase by 25% by May 2, 2019.

Sustainability of this Project

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The sustainability of this project involves both financial and relational aspects. The

financial aspect of the outreach program will not require significant funds beyond this grant. In

fact, this program is an investment in both the service-learning experiences of the students’

educational careers and Gemeinschaft Home’s future. The opportunity to gain familiarity with

individuals affected by incarceration is invaluable to students as the United States continues to

hold the highest international incarceration rate, thereby making the population one that is

undergoing constant expansion. Relationships with local institutions of higher education gives

Gemeinschaft Home a greater community presence that will lead to new prospective donors,

volunteers, and service recipients that would supplement the consistent state funding already

secured (Appendix C). In addition, the materials developed with the help of this grant would be

useful for several semesters with little to no alterations. Basic interpersonal maintenance of the

relationships would enable continued classroom presence and service-learning opportunities.

Resources Required

To fully engage in this service, Gemeinschaft Home’s outreach program requires:

 1 year-long intern to facilitate campus visits

 Basic, free survey software to assess public knowledge of Gemeinschaft Home

 Volunteer logs to record number of volunteers with Gemeinschaft Home

 Professional posters to provide easily accessible information during campus visits and

College Day events

 Social media promotions that are connected to Gemeinschaft Home’s Facebook, Twitter,

and Instagram accounts to advertise the College Day events

 Materials for distribution at College Day events and campus visits

Budget and Narrative Budget Justification

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Gemeinschaft Home Simplified Budget Request FY 2018-2019

Personnel

Intern $1,500

Chef (Bonus Pay for Event Work) $200

Total Personnel $1,700

Operating Expenses

Food for 2 College Day Events $600

3 Professional Posters $60

500 Flyers to Promote College Day Events $190

500 Brochures for Volunteers & Donors $200

Giveaway Materials for Events & Visits $700

Social Media Promotion via Facebook $1,150

Replenishing Materials $400

Total Operating $3,300

Total Budget Request $5,000

The concept of philanthropy has been restricted throughout the history of the United

States to donations that only provide direct services to individuals in need of the services the

agency offers. An unpopular fact remains that an agency’s growth allows for more efficient and

comprehensive services that would otherwise remain inaccessible without trusting philanthropic

support. Gemeinschaft Home’s college outreach program is an excellent example of this reality.

With Gemeinschaft Home’s land and facilities available for use, funds can be directed to

the advertisement and tools needed to educate local students and community members about the

organization, attract prospective volunteers and donors to the consumers of Gemeinschaft

Home’s services, and facilitate successful visits and events. Funding for this outreach effort
Gemeinschaft Home 7

would enable regular sources of funding to be directed to the direct services provided to residents

and program participants. The experience of many individuals who participate in Gemeinschaft

Home’s residential and nonresidential programs consists of endless barriers to employment,

socialization, and other critical aspects of re-entry. The influx of volunteers and supporters of the

organization that would be obtained from this outreach program would improve the primarily

negative and unwelcoming re-entry transition that await many incarcerated individuals.

Methods of Evaluation:

Goal 1: Two surveys will be created by the program to compare the students’ general knowledge

before and after campus visits and attending the college fair. Gemeinschaft Home will also

compare the number of people who expressed volunteer interest (property visits, phone calls,

emails, and online inquiries) from previous years. To evaluate residents’ comfort with

volunteers, qualitative focus groups will be used to assess men’s experiences with volunteers.

Goal 2: Records from previous years’ donations will be compared to those of the upcoming

fiscal year. By looking at the number of donors (note: this does not include the amount donated),

the level of interest in the organization can be assessed. Records of service referrals will undergo

a similar comparison process.

Anticipated Outcomes and Impacts

 Anticipated outcomes include an increased volunteer base, an increase in positive

attitudes from community members about formerly non-violent and non-sexual

incarcerated individuals, and increased displays of support from local Harrisonburg

businesses for the marginalized population of formerly incarcerated individuals.

 Anticipated impacts include a decrease in recidivism rates in the Commonwealth of

Virginia and increased support for restorative justice among public citizens of the state.
Gemeinschaft Home 8

Appendices

Appendix A

References

Austin, R. (2004). “The shame of it all”: Stigma and the political disenfranchisement of formerly

convicted and incarcerated persons. Columbia Human Rights Law Review, 36(1), 173-

192. Retrieved from

https://www.law.upenn.edu/cf/faculty/raustin/workingpapers/b36ColumbiaHumRtsLR17

3(2004).pdf

Hirschfield, P. J., & Piquero, A. R. (2010). Normalization and legitimation: Modeling

stigmatizing attitudes toward ex-offenders. Criminology, 48(1), 27-55. Retrieved from

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1745-9125.2010.00179.x

Jacovitch, J. (2018). Mission and vision. Retrieved from

http://www.gemeinschafthome.org/mission--vision.html

Jacovitch, J. (2018). Our philosophy. Retrieved from http://www.gemeinschafthome.org/our-

philosophy.html

Moore, K. E., Stuewig, J. B., Tangney, J. P. (2016). The effect of stigma on criminal offenders’

functioning: A longitudinal mediational model. Deviant Behavior, 37(2), 196-218.

doi:10.1080/01639625.2014.1004035

Pallotta, D. (2013). The way we think about charity is dead wrong [Video File]. Retrieved from

https://www.ted.com/talks/dan_pallotta_the_way_we_think_about_charity_is_dead_wron

g/details
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Virginia’s full prisons [Editorial]. (2013, November 30). Virginia Pilot. Retrieved from

https://pilotonline.com/opinion/editorial/article_18c6f128-0641-5bad-8b8d-

eed583a57e4f.html
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Appendix B

Timeline for the 2018-2019 Academic Year

Activities Date
Submit Grant Proposal April, 2018
Secure (At Least) One Course per School for August, 2018
Campus Visits
Partner with JMU’s CSL Program August, 2018
Hire Intern July, 2018
Design Presentation and Distribution/Display August, 2018
Materials
Order Giveaway Materials September, 2018
Print Paper Products September, 2018
Host Fall College Day October, 2018
Facilitate Residential Focus Groups October, 2018
Update Informative Materials if Needed December, 2018
Analyze Survey Results from Campus Visits December, 2018
Analyze Volunteer, Donor, and Referral Logs December, 2018
Print Updated Materials January, 2019
Host Spring College Day March, 2019
Facilitate Residential Focus Groups March, 2019
Analyze Survey Results from Campus Visits April, 2019
Analyze Volunteer, Donor, and Referral Logs April, 2019
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Appendix C

Sources of Sustainable Income for Direct Services

Gemeinschaft Home
Proposed Budget
FY 2017/2018 As of 6/30/2017

Ann Budg 17 YTD Actual 17 Ann Budg 18 Comment

4000 · Income
4005 · Day Report Income 95,000.00 112,425.00 112,000.00
4010 · CRP Resident Income per diem 522,000.00 516,770.66 522,000.00 365 day x $55 rate x 26 beds
4015 · CRP Residents Room & Board 12,000.00 18,744.00 18,000.00
4020 · Tenant Rent Income 13,500.00 12,687.50 13,500.00 $375 x 3 tenants x 12 month
4030 · Self Pay Resident Income 30,000.00 25,301.77 26,000.00 $500 x 4 self pay x 12 month
4040 · Vending Income 2,004.00 2,912.20 2,500.00 drink machine/laundry
4050 · Houseware Fee Income 1,800.00 1,352.40 1,300.00
4110 · General Contribution 38,300.00 48,421.60 42,000.00 Nap Donations ($22,300K/$19,700K)
4120 · Designated Contributions 5,000.00 2,649.84 2,700.00 Grants
4910 Miscellanious Income 4,648.66
Total 4000 · Income 719,604.00 745,913.63 740,000.00