Mission
Incarcerated women often come from backgrounds with little opportunity to learn how to make positive decisions. Instead they tend to: flee difficult situations by using alcohol or other drugs. float along, letting others decide for them.
Institutionalization further erodes self-esteem and personal responsibility.
The purpose of Better Decisions is to offer each inmate student tools to: learn to identify her feelings. monitor her responses to different situations. practice changing self-image from "born to lose" to "born to choose". gain more control over her life.
| Program
This volunteer-driven program teaches decision-making and problem-solving skills to women incarcerated in Nashville, TN. Since 1985, more than 1,000 women of all ages and walks of life have been trained to work with inmates at the Tennessee Prison for Women. Over 1,300 inmates have successfully completed the 8-week program, which is offered twice a year, in the fall and early spring.
The 8-week structured course includes:
weekly classes using a nationally-recognized curriculum weekly mentoring sessions where each (inmate) student practices skill building with a trained volunteer partner
The annual training weekend for new volunteers is held in mid-September. Once trained, the volunteer mentor meets with her inmate partner one hour per week in the afternoon or evening. A detailed manual guides the volunteer and experienced volunteers provide support to newcomers. |