Our Programs

Founded in 1999, incorporated in 2004 and receiving its 501(c)(3) status in 2005, Changed Choices provides comprehensive services to female jail and prison inmates through their incarceration and into their transition back into the community. This program is unique in that it is individual and client oriented.

 Our program encompasses the mental, emotional, spiritual and physical needs of the client in three different venues:

•         .  Identification - Domestic violence counselors, case managers and Chaplains identify the women in the local county jail who are highly motivated and demonstrate a strong desire to change.
•         . Prison Work - while the client is serving her time, we provide the needed resources with emphasis on spiritual development and growth. Pen pals, self help books and Bible Studies play a large part in assisting Changed Choices staff to "grow" the clients.
•         . Transition - for at least two years after release, we will work with the client to assist her in finding her place in the community - job, housing, mentors, community resources, financial guidance and education, and church family. Mentors are vital at this point.
•  Any incarcerated woman is eligible to become a client of Changed Choices, but she must have a willingness to understand the past, change destructive patterns and make the hard choices needed for a stable and fulfilling future. Studies have shown that a strong faith is vital to a successful transition into a "new life beyond prison walls". This combined with a strong support system and perseverance will lead to success.
• Our goal is to help our clients understand that they were created a worthwhile person and to give them hope by providing the support system, training, spiritual foundation and sense of worth that will allow them to make wise choices. This often takes years, making it vitally important that we begin working with them at the beginning of their incarceration and continue providing the encouragement they need throughout their transition. As we work together to ensure that these deserving clients are given the opportunities they need, we will see destructive cycles broken and lives and futures changed!
• Changed Choices has extended some of its services to include work at the female housing unit of The Center for Community Transitions and Dove's Nest (a drug treatment program). In February of 2009, Changed Choices established its COOOL Program (Changing Our Outlook On Life), a mentoring program for the female youthful offenders in Mecklenburg County Jail. This has been a learning experience and has proven quite successful. It is our desire to make a continued contribution to the community by providing these services to the adult women in the jail as well. This will be called the Changed Choices COOOL ADULT Program.
• Until May 2009, all Changed Choices personnel were volunteers. A paid position will be filled May 18th to manage the COOOL Program as well as various other agency programs. At least 200 volunteers (in different capacities) and eight volunteer staff currently are involved with this vital work. Financial support for Changed Choices comes from private sources including individuals, churches and corporations.

Changed Choices Supports "The Dove's Nest"

In supporting Changed Choices clients who need a good substance abuse treatment program, it becomes necessary to be supportive of the entity that is serving our client. Dove's Nest's excellent program is a tremendous asset to the Changed Choices clients who need it and the material support that Changed Choices volunteers are able to provide benefits all residents. Program Components: Provision of meals on a weekly basis with encouragement provided for residents at that time, providing for a "Birthday Celebration" on a monthly basis, when possible, supplying some personal needs of residents and providing assistance in some fun program events such as art therapy etc.

Changed Choices Supports "The Center for Women"

"The Center for Women" is a program of "The Center for Community Transitions". Through a contract with the North Carolina Department of Corrections, The Center for Community Transitions provides housing for women who are completing their sentences. It is a work release, contract facility.

Changed Choices has two clients there currently, although that number changes. Changed Choices entered into a "Memorandum of Understanding" with The Center for Community Transitions and now provides support to all their residents.

Program Components

• Group therapy sessions are provided to all those who voluntarily wish to attend. Occasionally, these group sessions are mandatory as determined by the Staff of The Center. These group sessions are primarily staffed by Changed Choices Interns. 
• Individual counseling is available to those residents who request and/or need it. The counselors are Interns with Changed Choices
• "Celebrate Recovery" is held for the residents of The Center and the Changed Choices clients. It is held at Grace Covenant Church, the location of our office
• Basic needs of new residents may be met by Changed Choices and their volunteers.
• Monthly birthday cake and celebration
• Chaplaincy services are provided to residents

Changed Choices COOOL (Youthful Offenders) Mentoring Program

The Changed Choices COOOL (Changing Our Outlook On Life as a YOUTH) Program is a mentoring program, designed to address needs of female youthful offenders by providing a role model and mentor both during incarceration and upon re-entry. In conjunction with the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office, Changed Choices has established and is providing a mentoring program for all female youthful offenders in the jail. Each mentee receives a weekly session with a mentor, a counseling session or second mentor session with staff and a group session led by a counselor. Changed Choices' experience with mentoring our current program clients provides the valuable experience for this new endeavor begun in February 2009.

Future Plans

Changed Choices COOOL ADULT Mentoring Program

COOOL ADULT (Changing Our Outlook On Life as an ADULT) is a Changed Choices' mentoring program, designed to address needs of incarcerated women by providing a role model and mentor both during incarceration and upon re-entry. Changed Choices' experience with mentoring our current program clients as well as the COOOL Female Youthful Offender Program in the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office provides the valuable experience for this partnership in the case management team. The COOOL ADULT Program will be administered by a Changed Choices Mentor Program Coordinator and supervised by the Changed Choices Mentor Manager.

The "COOOL ADULT" program addresses the whole person through education, resource provision and mentoring. The mentor will demonstrate new and better ways to cope with life, improving relationships with family, friends, and the community. It is important that each woman recognize herself as someone of value and worth. The education received by mentees from the case management team and other professionals at the jail, will be strongly supported and reinforced by each mentor. Mentees will be guided in dealing with issues and people from the past that have had a detrimental effect on them while preparing them to become productive members of society with a healthy self image. The COOOL ADULT program through its Coordinator and mentors will invest their time, skills, and love as they serve this underserved population. Mentors will be asked to work with their mentee for up to two hours a week while they are incarcerated and will be a continuing resource for the mentee following release. Mentees in the program will also receive a resource booklet which will give helpful advice and contact information for use upon re-entry. Support groups will be offered for those interested following release.