Reintegration Ministry
Stepping Out
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History and Development
Since 1996 Cornerstone has been providing Bible correspondence courses to inmates across Canada.
The need for a reintegration program came into focus when, in early 2000, one of our students indicated that after twelve years in federal prison he would be released in 2001 and desired our assistance in his reintegration.
In October, 2000, we hosted a panel discussion on reintegration. This launched us into more research and planning in hopes that we would be able to assist in the reintegration of our students.
Cornerstone was not able to establish a formal program in time for this student’s release but our former Executive Director, Mr. Rudy de Vries, was able to be a part of his reintegration via Circles of Support and Accountability, a Correctional Service of Canada program which offers reintegration support to a certain portion of federal inmates. This experience, along with Mr. de Vries’ informal involvement with a number of other men reintegrating from prison, helped Cornerstone understand the structure and resource requirements of a reintegration program.
After four years of study and preparation Cornerstone launched the Stepping Out program.
Stepping Out is a covenant-based, support and accountability structure which assists a released Cornerstone student reintegrate into the community. After reviewing a variety of reintegration models, we were convinced that the best model to develop for Cornerstone students was one which incorporated individual support and accountability through what is called a Stepping Out Support Team (SOST).
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The Stepping Out Support Team
The SOST is made up of about five or six individuals from an approved local reintegrating church who commit to regular support and friendship with the Core Member (released student). Initially, the SOST is lead by a Cornerstone staff person.
Before the student is released from prison, the SOST is trained for this volunteer work. This includes a familiarity with the Core Member’s criminal history and particular training regarding assisting the Core Member in community reintegration and relapse prevention.
Regular meetings include a Scripture meditation, prayer, an around the table sharing time, and time spent discussing the core member’s life “on the street” in all of its various components.
At times the group engages in special activities such as meals together or an informal gathering in a group member’s home.
This group becomes a stepping stone for the Core Member into society and church.
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Eligibility Requirements
The following criteria must be met in order for an inmate applicant to be welcomed into Cornerstone’s Stepping Out program:
- The applicant must have normally completed Level One of our Bible correspondence courses.
- Our staff must be sufficiently acquainted with the individual via in-prison visitation.
- The applicant must pass our screening process which includes interviews and full disclosure of criminal history via legal documentation.
- The applicant must be prepared to sign a Stepping Out Covenant (see below).
- The applicant must receive the approval of the Cornerstone Board of Directors.
- There must be a local church congregation willing and able to provide an SOST.
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The Stepping Out Covenant
This team is guided by a written reintegration covenant which is signed by the Cornerstone President, the SOST leader, and the Core Member. This covenant spells out the mutual commitments between Cornerstone and the Core Member. It then serves as a point of reference during the reintegration process to guide the support and accountability.
Some of the major areas it covers are: regular support meetings, transparency, honesty, confidentiality, support for and cooperation with local law enforcement and parole, a commitment to community safety, participation in Biblical counseling and discipleship, a commitment to approved volunteer work, and accountability and assistance with practical matters such as housing, medical care, transportation, etc. The Core Member is required to keep a diary/log of his daily activities and is provided with a cell phone for ease of contact.
The initial covenant is signed for a one year period after which it can be modified or eliminated, depending on the degree to which the Core Member has successfully reintegrated.
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The Goal
This team is guided by a written reintegration covenant which is signed by the Cornerstone President, the SOST leader, and the Core Member. This covenant spells out the mutual commitments between Cornerstone and the Core Member. It then serves as a point of reference during the reintegration process to guide the support and accountability.
Cornerstone helps the church by being a bridge between “covenant communities” and “convict communities”. The traffic on that bridge is primarily one way as Cornerstone Instructors in local churches grade lessons for inmates, as Staff and Volunteers visit prisoners, and as we pray for prisoners. In other words, Cornerstone is stepping in to minister to prisoners.
We are now witnessing the blessing of traffic beginning to trickle the other way on that bridge, namely, Cornerstone students released from prison connecting to local churches through our Stepping Out program. They are stepping out of prison, and churches are stepping out to receive them and provide support and accountability.
Our mercy ministry of remembering prisoners is brought full circle for these individuals when they step out of prison and integrate into a local church and are enfolded into the family of God. When this happens they will, in time, lose their need for the Stepping Out program at Cornerstone.
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