Running head: AGENCY REPORT 1

Agency Report

Jamison Parker

AHS-8100

Wilmington University
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I work with Volunteers of America Delaware Valley’s Camden Safe Return program, as

a Substance Abuse Counselor. My internship is based out of the Camden, New Jersey office, yet

I am an Intern Treatment Director for all four Safe Return locations. Throughout this paper, one

will gain insight into the organization’s history, mission, demographics, policies/procedures,

structure, governance, funding source, relationships with other agencies, strengths, challenges,

future trends, and my role as an intern.

In order to understand the Safe Return program, one must comprehend the history of

Volunteers of America Delaware Valley (VOADV). In 1896, two social reformers, Ballington

Booth and Maud Booth established Volunteers of America. Their main goal was to fortify and

impact the American people. They began their work through assisting the impoverished

population within the Philadelphia region, and have evolved into a nation-wide organization.

Within the Delaware Valley, VOADV has over fifty-two different programs. The organization is

one of the largest human service institutions within America, and yearly they touch the lives of

over two million people (Volunteers of America Delaware Valley, 2018).

The Safe Return program began in 2015, with two locations in Atlantic City, New Jersey,

and Trenton, New Jersey. The purpose of establishing Safe Return was to aid the ex-offender

population, and provide wrap around services to this community. As of 2017, Safe Return

expanded its’ efforts into two additional programs. The programs include, Tri-County Safe

Return, where they assist individuals from Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem County, while

Camden Safe Return provides services within Camden County, New Jersey (Volunteers of

America Delaware Valley, 2018).

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Volunteers of America Delaware Valley’s mission is simple. The agency is committed to

provide community-based aid to individuals in need, so they may live independent and fruitful

lives. As a faith-based organization, it seeks to be a faithful leader in targeting and awarding

people in need with various services. The organization is committed to be a catalyst for

transformation within individuals’ lives, while altering the circumstances for people, families,

and communities for the better. Likewise, Safe Return’s mission is to provide instant and direct

services to ex-offenders, so they may integrate back into society to live a life free from crime.

Safe Return’s programs offer an array of services. These include acquiring identification for

clients, paralegal assistance, job training/placement, mental health/substance abuse counseling

and referral, case management services, education, clothing, transportation, housing, and more

(Volunteers of America Delaware Valley, 2018).

The demographics of the organization vary between the fifty-two programs. VOADV

assists individuals who are experiencing homelessness, incarcerated population, domestic

violence perpetrators, the mentally disabled, veterans, elderly, individuals with mental health

and/or substance use issues, and more. Safe Return’s demographics have been stipulated by the

constraints of the grant that provides funding to the program. Therefore, anyone may be a

participant if they have served time within a jail or prison in the past three years. Additionally,

they must reside or have been homeless in Atlantic City, Trenton, Cumberland, Gloucester,

Camden, or Salem County, New Jersey. Moreover, the ex-offender cannot be on any type of

intense supervision, like parole, ISP, or drug court, as those agencies have funding for their

clients (Volunteers of America Delaware Valley, 2018). As I am based out of Camden Safe

Return, and have worked on Camden’s specific demographic, I am able to speak upon those

numbers. Camden’s program started in October of 2017, and as of May 2018, the program has
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engaged over five hundred individuals, and assists three hundred and twelve clients. Within

Camden County Safe Return, most of the clients are male, comprising of eighty-seven percent,

while the female population makes up thirteen percent. Half of the client base is African

American, while a quarter is Latino, and the remaining quarter is Caucasian. Furthermore, four

percent of the clients are between18-25 years old, thirty-three percent are between the ages of 26

and 35, twenty-five percent is 36-45 years old, and thirty-seven percent is over forty-six years

old (Adcock & Parker, 2018). According to Safe Return’s Regional Director, the demographics

are similar to the three other Safe Returns in terms of race and age (A. Leese, personal

communication, June 8, 2018).

As an agency, Volunteers of America Delaware Valley adheres to various administrative

policies and procedures. The nonprofit organization is an EEO (Equal Employment

Opportunity) employer, where they abide by legislation to not discriminate against an

employee/job applicant resulting from one’s race, color, religion, sex, nation of origin, age,

disability, and veteran status. The company is also an at-will employer, meaning an employee

can be dismissed for any reason. Moreover, there is a zero-tolerance policy related to sexual

harassment and/or misconduct against an employee or a client. There are strict policies and

procedures stipulating privacy of clients and staff. Subsequently, clients and staff are allowed to

follow grievance procedures, if they feel something is unjust within the work place. This allows

for an individual to bring the issue to Human Resources, without punitive measures. Following,

an investigation may ensue concerning the issue, and the organization will then attempt to rectify

the situation. Furthermore, VOADV is compliant with state and federal rules and regulation.

Ultimately, the agency’s policies and procedures uphold its’ mission, values, and vision

(Volunteers of America Delaware Valley, 2018). As a program, Safe Return does not have a
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clear set of policies and procedures, as the institution is granted flexibility in accordance with the

funding source, yet it follows the policies and procedures established by its’ corporate office (A.

Leese, personal communication, June 8, 2018).

The structure of Volunteers of America Delaware Valley is relatively straightforward.

The CEO/president, Dan Lombardo, directs the agency. Pat McKernan is the COO (Chief

Operating Officer), whose main responsibilities entail overseeing the day-to-day operations,

supervises all programs, and services. The Chief of Staff is Steve Schultz; he tracks legislation

and monitors issues and political trends that may impact the agency, while also supports

employees. The Chief Financial Officer is Chuck Kelly; he supervises accounting and finances

for the agency. Additionally, underneath the Chief Operating Officer, is the Vice President of

Acquisitions, Owen McCabe, who steers activities for development, real estate growth, public

subsidies, and more. Likewise, the Vice President of Program Operations is Kathy White. Her

job functions include performing human resource tasks, strategic planning for the organization,

and implements goals within the agency’s programs (Volunteers of America Delaware Valley,

2018). Below is an organization chart for VOADV.

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The Safe Return program also has an organizational hierarchy. Amana Leese is the

Regional Director, who oversees all four Safe Return Programs. Underneath her are assistant

directors from Atlantic City, Camden, Tri-County (Salem, Cumberland, and Gloucester

Counties), as well as Trenton. This team of people oversees the daily operations of each of their

programs. Alongside of the assistant directors is the Director of Treatment/LCSW Dave

Martino, who is also my field supervisor. He is responsible for training me as the Treatment

Director Intern. Additionally, he supervises all four Safe Return’s treatment staff, which is

composed of social workers, re-entry specialists, and substance abuse counselors. Underneath

the assistant directors is each individual’s staff. They include the paralegal, employment

coordinator, employment specialist, and administrative assistant (Volunteers of America

Delaware Valley, 2018). Below is a chart that describes the chain of command in the Safe

Return program.
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Volunteers of America Delaware Valley is governed by a Board of Directors. The board

is composed of a variety of elected individuals within the community to establish policy and

make decisions concerning noteworthy changes to the agency. The Chairperson is Judy Donlen,

who is from South Jersey Prenatal Cooperative. Maury Reiter, Esq. is the Treasurer, Dan

Lombardo is the President/CEO of VOADV, Amy Santa Maria, Esq. provides cooperate council,

while Jack Fisher is the Secretary of the Board. Additional members include Carolyn Ballard-

Freeman, Damon T. Gray, James Brown, James Hemm, Assemblywoman Patricia Egan-Jones,

Robert DiLella, and Stanley Mastil.

Each program within the agency is funded through different means. In regards to Safe

Return, it functions through grant funding from New Jersey Department of Community Affairs.

The Safe Return Initiative was created to provide re-entry services to individuals coming out of

incarceration, but also as a response to new bail reform laws, in order to reduce the rate of

recidivism while an individual is awaiting their sentence (McKernan, 2016).

Funding is an essential aspect of Safe Return, however the program flourishes by

establishing and building upon relationships within the community. The program provides wrap

around services, in an array of fields, therefore relationships within the community reach a vast

number of external organizations (Volunteers of America Delaware Valley, 2018). To begin, the

organization must have strong association with state and local correctional facilities. In fact, we

must verify a client through these agencies, while they also provide referrals for inmates in need

of services. The program networks with state and local law enforcement, in order to provide

intervention services to people in need of assistance. Moreover, the program must have a

kinship with local homeless shelters and transitional housing, in an effort to provide housing

opportunities to clients. The program utilizes such organizations like VOADV’s homeless
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shelters, including Eleanor Corbett House, Aletha Wright Center, Anna Sample, as well as

outside agencies like Joseph’s House, Trenton Rescue Mission, Escher Street Housing, and

Atlantic City Rescue Mission. Regarding clients who have substance use disorders and/or

mental health concerns, Safe Return depends on local detox facilities, short-term inpatient, long-

term inpatient facilities, intensive outpatient programs, as well as mental health providers like

Oaks Integrated Care, Rutgers Behavioral Health, Helping Hands, and more. Furthermore, the

program has an association with state parole and local probation, to verify participants, as well as

having those agencies refer clients. Additional relationships include the NJMVC, Social

Services, Social Security, and New Jersey Vital Statistics to acquire identification and other

services for clients. Subsequently, staff has close ties with second chance employers, education

providers, trade schools, and more to aid in job placement/career advancement. Lastly, Safe

Return has to have affiliations with local food pantries, food banks, and soup kitchens to provide

groceries and hot meals to individuals in need. Clearly, the relationship Safe Return has with

other agencies is vital for a client to succeed.

I believe the Safe Return program has many strengths. It provides a mélange of services

to target each client’s individual needs. Additionally, the organization has robust connections to

outside agencies to promote sustainability and success for participants. Safe Return is reinforced

by government, law enforcement, correctional facilities, and Volunteers of America Delaware

Valley, and has shown to be prosperous in reintegrating ex-offenders back into their

communities. I also think the program is contributing to reducing the stigma of ex-offenders, by

providing services to combat stereotypes.

Although there are many strengths within the program, Safe Return certainly has its’

challenges. The population that is serviced can be difficult to work with. Many clients are jaded
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by the criminal justice system, and have fallen into the cycle of re-offending. Additionally, the

program is voluntary, and not every client will be compliant with the program’s policies.

Moreover, the population is transient; many participants do not have a home address and/or a

contact number, so it is easy to loose track of a client if they are not motivated to alter their

lifestyle. Likewise, because motivation level of clients can be low, it is incumbent to use

Motivational Interviewing to get them through the five stages of change. While also providing

individual services to each participant in an effort to inspire change.

Despite the challenges, according to Pat McKernan (2016), the budget for Safe Return

increased by one hundred percent in the last year to expand services to four other counties within

South Jersey (McKernan, 2016). Safe Return has met and succeeded expectations put in place

by its’ funding source. Therefore, I forecast Safe Return programs and resources will continue to

grow and expand its’ services and community connections. As the criminal justice system

continues to alter, there is a need for re-entry services to provide assistance to individuals in need

of help getting back into society, in order to live a pro-social lifestyle.

My role within the organization is to continue to grow the program. As an employee, I

am a Substance Abuse Counselor, who aids the population within Camden County that continues

to suffer from addiction. Yet, as an intern, my main function is to ensure the treatment staff is

performing their job functions properly. I guarantee staff is compliant with policies and

procedures of VOADV, that treatment staff is therapeutically aiding participants properly, while

also utilizing appropriate outside resources so clients can get targeted treatment services.

Furthermore, I have a specific set of duties. I engage and educate outside agencies about Safe

Return, to provide assistant to our clients, while also creating additional client referral sources. I

conduct research to provide data for future re-entry grants within VOADV. I educate the
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community about the program, run treatment team meetings, as well as supervise interns who are

interested in the re-entry field.

It is evident Safe Return is fulfilling the mission and vision of Volunteers of America

Delaware Valley. All components of the organization employ the concept that an individual in

need is able to live a fruitful and independent life through wrap around services. In identifying

the key aspects of the organization, one is able to garner I am apart of a flourishing organization.

I am proud to say my role is to ensure staff is employing appropriate treatment to aid people

within the community who are in need of re-entry services.

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References

Adcock, E. & Parker, J. (2018, May). Monthly Report. Camden Safe Return May Monthly

Report.

McKernan, P. (2016, March 16). Testimony of Patricia McKernan COO VOADV Assembly

Budget Committee. New Jersey Legislation. Retrieved from

www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislativepub/budget_2017/031616/McKernan-P.pdf

Volunteers of America Delaware Valley. (2018). About Us. Retrieved from www.voadv.org

Volunteers of America Delaware Valley. (2018). Safe Return. Retrieved from

www.voadv.org/safereturn