RISE Academy
Petition for Incarcerated Client to Have Contact With Her Children
Reunification of incarcerated mother with her children.
Posted October 4, 2021
Background & Context
Mother describes father as being emotionally abusive and fears for the well-being of her children. Up until her incarceration she retained full custody of the children. Mother has obtained a psychological evaluation that says she is fit to parent. Mother is serving a sentence for sexual assault against a minor - she freely admits to having sex with a 15 year old boy. No prior criminal record. Father had relocated children to England for a period of 1.5 years but now resides in California. Mother lives in Nebraska. Mother has not had physical access to children in 4.5 years. Father has recently been served with an order to pay back child support and mother fears this will exacerbate the family conflict. Mother has been paying and is current on her own child support payments.
Immediate Problem
RISE would like to offer mediation services, but mother needs to be advised of her parental rights and father needs legal reason to oblige. There is a parenting plan in place that father is disregarding. We would like to know how we can enforce this? We need to understand what her criminal charge means for maintaining contact with children.
Work & Deliverables
Incarcerated mother is being denied contact with her children, aged 13 and 16, by father who shares joint custody. Mother needs father to grant access and provide information regarding the well-being of children in a regular manner.
Preparation Phase
- Schedule a background call with volunteer coordinator
- Schedule call to discuss questions and proposed revisions
Collaboration Phase
- Get to know client and facts of client’s case
- Prepare petition and supporting documents
- File petition
Wrap Up
- Explain outcome and further options to client
RISE Academy
RISE's vision is that all people find freedom from cycles of incarceration. At RISE, transformation starts pre-release and continues post-release. Our inside/out model bridges incarceration to the community and considers all the critical steps in that journey. We prepare and train people for each phase through intensive character development, reentry planning, employment readiness, job creation through entrepreneurship and case management. We transform people in the community by building awareness and empathy that leads to support and opportunity. These connections heal families, create employment pathways and lower recidivism. RISE serves in 7 Nebraska prisons: · Omaha Correctional Center (Omaha) · Nebraska State Penitentiary (Lincoln) · Nebraska Correctional Center for Women (York) · Tecumseh State Correctional Institution (Tecumseh) · Lincoln Correctional Center (Lincoln) · Community Correctional Center, Lincoln · Community Correctional Center, Omaha RISE's innovative 6-month program focuses on character development, job readiness, reentry planning and entrepreneurship. Program graduates receive a RISE completion certificate and a Certificate in Career Readiness from the University of Nebraska Omaha's School of Business Administration. RISE holds in-prison volunteer coaching events and business pitch competitions. Volunteers coach on resumes, leadership statements, business ideation and lead mock interviews. Volunteers judge pitch competitions and provide mentorship to RISE Builders. RISE offers program graduates case management support upon release. Post-release services include a business accelerator, reentry support, job readiness training and support and referrals to transitional housing.
RISE Academy
RISE's vision is that all people find freedom from cycles of incarceration. At RISE, transformation starts pre-release and continues post-release. Our inside/out model bridges incarceration to the community and considers all the critical steps in that journey. We prepare and train people for each phase through intensive character development, reentry planning, employment readiness, job creation through entrepreneurship and case management. We transform people in the community by building awareness and empathy that leads to support and opportunity. These connections heal families, create employment pathways and lower recidivism. RISE serves in 7 Nebraska prisons: · Omaha Correctional Center (Omaha) · Nebraska State Penitentiary (Lincoln) · Nebraska Correctional Center for Women (York) · Tecumseh State Correctional Institution (Tecumseh) · Lincoln Correctional Center (Lincoln) · Community Correctional Center, Lincoln · Community Correctional Center, Omaha RISE's innovative 6-month program focuses on character development, job readiness, reentry planning and entrepreneurship. Program graduates receive a RISE completion certificate and a Certificate in Career Readiness from the University of Nebraska Omaha's School of Business Administration. RISE holds in-prison volunteer coaching events and business pitch competitions. Volunteers coach on resumes, leadership statements, business ideation and lead mock interviews. Volunteers judge pitch competitions and provide mentorship to RISE Builders. RISE offers program graduates case management support upon release. Post-release services include a business accelerator, reentry support, job readiness training and support and referrals to transitional housing.