Our Mission
ReNew Reentry Program is a not-for-profit organization founded to partner with the District of New Jersey’s Federal Reentry Court. RRP’s initiatives address areas of critical need for Reentry Court participants, including housing, mental health and wellness, job training and education, which are not otherwise addressed by existing community or governmental organizations. These initiatives enable Reentry Court participants to overcome significant barriers to their reentry, achieve stability, and develop momentum towards a sustainable and meaningful future.
“RENEW IS ANOTHER FAMILY WITH A MUTUAL SENSE OF BELONGING AND UNDERSTANDING.”
-ReNew Graduate
Initiatives
Housing
RRP seeks to provide financial support to participants to secure transitional housing, including subsidizing security deposits, providing rental assistance, and developing properties to serve as transitional housing for participants during the first 18 months of their reentry.
Participants struggle to secure housing upon their release given the low wages they are initially able to earn and the housing shortage in Essex County. As a result, they often end up sleeping on couches, in shelters, or even voluntarily returning to incarceration in a halfway house in order to have a place to stay. Even when participants are able to stay with family or friends, they are often subject to financial and social pressure, provoking them to return to criminal activity.
Providing financial support or a group home removes a significant stressor and improves participants’ ability to engage with mental health and other supportive services. It enables participants to build savings and establishing long-term employment before securing stable housing.
Mental Health
RRP has developed a ten-month intensive and comprehensive cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) program, based on a model created by Drexel University, to address patterns of thinking and problem solving that undermine a participants’ ability to reintegrate into their families, maintain employment and otherwise navigate their communities without recidivating.
This CBT program addresses thinking styles and blind spots, self-awareness and self-control, communication with family members and employers, problem solving and goal setting through group meetings and homework assignments facilitated by social workers.
By providing participants with the skills and self-awareness to navigate the challenges of reentry and daily life, the CBT program enables participants to benefit from the other supportive services provided in reentry court and to maintain the advances they make in education, employment and in relationships with their families.
Job Training and Education
RRP provides scholarships and stipends to help participants complete training and education programs, in order to significantly enhance participants’ future employment prospects.
These training programs range from Commercial Driver’s License training to HVAC certifications and trade union training programs to community college, associates and bachelors’ degrees. Absent financial support, participants would be unable to support themselves during the training and education programs, even while maintaining part-time employment.
After completing the training and education programs, participants are able to transition from unstable, low-wage employment to well-paid careers that offer benefits and job security.
I have never been this positive in my life.
-ReNew Participant
The ReNew Program is a process, but it is worth it if you want to change your life.
-ReNew Graduate
About the ReNew Reentry Program
Since 2012, ReNew Reentry Court has been serving people returning to Essex County after completing federal sentences. Participants, who are on federal supervised release and who would otherwise be at high risk of reoffending, voluntarily agree to complete 72 weeks in reentry court. They come to reentry court monthly, where they meet with the reentry court team, including federal judges, a U.S. Probation Officer, attorneys and staff from the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Federal Public Defender’s Office, as well as a social worker and social work students from Columbia and Rutgers Schools of Social Work. Participants also attend a monthly mentorship session structured around a cognitive behavioral therapy model.
During reentry court sessions, participants review their progress toward their individual goals and work with the team to address any obstacles they face in their reentry. In between sessions, participants must be employed, in school or a training program, or engaged in community service to earn credit towards completion of the required 72 weeks. Participants must also follow through with individualized goals and must comply with all terms of federal supervised release. After 72 weeks, a participant will earn 18 months of reduction from their term of supervised release.
The reentry court team either assists participants directly or will link participants with supportive services, including employment and training, education, healthcare, treatment, counseling, and mentoring, housing, and legal services. By the end of their time in reentry court, participants typically:
- Obtain well-paid, long-term employment after completing significant education and training, including CDL training, EMT training, HVAC certification, union apprenticeship, or an associate’s degree;
- Obtain stable, long-term housing and furniture and household supplies;
- Enroll in health insurance and obtain necessary medical care for themselves and their families;
- Receive cognitive behavioral therapy, group counseling, parenting or domestic violence counseling, and support in school placement for their children, as needed;
- Obtain peer mentoring from successful reentry court alumni;
- Receive financial counseling and credit-history repair; and
- Clear warrants and restore divers licenses and enter payment plans for past child support and traffic violations.
ReNew continues to provide mentoring, employment counseling and civil legal support to graduates to ensure their long-term success and stability. As a result, after achieving significant goals in their first year, reentry court graduates typically build on these successes after graduation. The vast majority, around 78 percent, never recidivate and instead remain employed and able to support their families and the growing community of reentry court graduates and continue to advance their own life goals.
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Renew Reentry Program Board
Victor Afanador
Edward Kole
Lawrence Lustberg
Ricardo Solano
Richard Stadtmauer
Renew Reentry Court Team
Honorable Madeline Cox-Arleo
Amanda Maxwell
Amanda.Maxwell@usdoj.gov
Honorable Michael A. Hammer
Jordann Conaboy
Jordann.Conaboy@usdoj.gov
Honorable Jessica S. Allen
Caroline Sadlowski
Caroline.Sadlowski@usdoj.gov
Joyce Malliet
Joyce.Malliet@usdoj.gov
Michael Liebes
michael_liebes@njp.uscourts.gov
Lorna Woodham
irieempowers@gmail.com
Linda Foster
Linda_Foster@fd.org
Ingrid Eicher
ingrid.eicher@usdoj.gov
Carol Dominguez
Carol_Dominguez@fd.org
Sam Thypin-Bermeo
sam.thypinbermeo@usdoj.gov
Mental Health
ReNew offers mental health resources through our social work team and partnerships with Oaks Integrated Care - COPE Center and Newark Community Solutions.
How to Obtain Mental Health Services: All participants complete a mental health assessment during their first weeks in the program.
What is a Mental Health Assessment?
- This assessment involves questions about your childhood, current living situation, medical history, and more, to help the team understand you better.
Who Conducts the Assessment?
- Carol Parker, a licensed clinical social worker, or a licensed professional from Oaks Integrated Care - COPE Center.
How to Set an Appointment: After entering ReNew, a team member will notify Carol Parker or another professional. They will contact you to schedule an appointment.
Assessment Duration: The assessment can take up to 3 hours, so schedule accordingly.
Assessment Location: The location may vary depending on the professional conducting the assessment.
Is the Mental Health Assessment Mandatory? Yes, all participants must complete an assessment to be in the program. Many find the process rewarding.
Continued Support: Participants can arrange regular sessions with Carol Parker or other professionals, meeting weekly or bi-weekly if desired.
“ReNew gave me the opportunity to open up and learn how to understand myself and my triggers. Health is health… physical or mental.”
- ReNew Graduate
Identification
Driver’s License/Non-Driver’s Identification
- It is essential to obtain either a driver’s license or a non-driver ID within the first few weeks of joining ReNew.
- Motor Vehicle Commissions (MVC) can assist with this process.
Essex County MVC Locations:
- 183 South 18th Street Suite B, East Orange, NJ 07018
- 228 Frelinghuysen Avenue, Newark, NJ 07114
Hours:
- Monday: 8 AM - 5:30 PM
- Tuesday: 8 AM - 5:30 PM (Newark MVC until 7:30 PM)
- Wednesday to Friday: 8 AM - 5:30 PM
- Saturday: 8 AM - 1 PM
Six Points of Identification: To view required documents and their point values, click here.
Obtaining a Driver’s License: For steps to obtain your first driver’s license, click Here.
Obtaining a Non-Driver ID: For steps to obtain a non-driver ID, click HERE.
Additional Information:
- Ensure your six points of identification are up-to-date and consistent in spelling/address.
- The MVC process can be slow; plan for a couple of hours.
- At the MVC, you can also:
- Change your address
- Update your namE
- Access driver history records
- Obtain a commercial driver’s license
- Enroll in driver programs
- Register as an organ donor
- Register to vote
- Join the Next-of-Kin registry
- NJ cars typically need inspection every five years.
- All registered vehicles in NJ require three types of mandatory insurance: Liability, Personal Injury Protection (PIP), and Uninsured Motorist Coverage.
Volunteer Attorney
Volunteer attorneys are available to assist with various civil legal issues you may face upon your return, including:
- Child Support & Arrears
- Child Custody and Visitation
- Credit/Debt Issues
- License Restoration
- Municipal Fines
- Probation Surcharges
- Traffic Infractions
Once you are assigned an attorney, maintain regular contact and promptly return their calls to respect their time and ensure a successful resolution of your case.
Financial Literacy
Budget:
- List your net income (income after taxes and social security).
- Track your expenses daily, weekly, and monthly.
Savings:
- Pay yourself first by setting up automatic savings with your bank or employer.
- Aim to save 10% of your income.
- Use a spare change jar and deposit the collected change into your savings.
Net Worth:
- Calculate your net worth by subtracting your debts from your assets.
Bank Account:
- Open a bank account and set up direct deposit for your paycheck.
- Consider fees and minimum balances when choosing a bank.
- Close any accounts you no longer wish to maintain.
Goals:
- Write down specific and visible goals with deadlines.
- Don't be afraid to dream big.
Using Credit and Credit Cards:
- Pay off credit cards immediately and whenever possible.
- Use credit cards like cash; if you don't have it, don't spend it.
Mentoring
ReNew involves more than just the team members you see in court. Former graduates significantly contribute to the program's success by participating in mentoring sessions with current participants. These sessions include role plays, discussions, and real-life examples of successful program graduates.
Resources:
- To view the facilitator’s guide, click here.
- To view the mentor’s guide, click here.
- To view the mentor’s agreement, click here.
Health Care
Health Insurance: You can apply for health insurance and Medicaid at a Federal Community Health Center or online through this link.
Health Care: If you don't have medical insurance and need care, visit a Federal Community Health Center. Nearby locations include:
- 751 Broadway, Newark, NJ 07104
- 101 Ludlow Street, Newark, NJ 07114
- 92 Ferry Street, Newark, NJ 07105
- 444 William Street, East Orange, NJ 07017
- 1148-1150 Springfield Avenue, Irvington, NJ 07111
- 37 North Day Street, 3rd Floor, Orange, NJ 07050
Education and job Training
Education Fundamentals:
- GED test prep
- TABE test prep
Higher Education:
- Essex County Community College
- Rutgers University and NJ Step
Vocational and Technical Programs:
- Commercial Driver's License (CDL) Training
- Culinary Training
- Essex County Community College
- Essex County School of Technology
- New Jersey Reentry Corporation (NJRC)
- Union Apprenticeship Programs
Financing Your Education and Training:
- Before committing to a program or payment plan, evaluate if it's worth the cost, if there are cheaper alternatives, and the best loan options. Understand loan interest and get approval from your Probation Officer and a ReNew team member before taking on a loan.
Quick Loan Facts:
- Pell Grants: Need-based, do not need to be repaid, max $6,345 for 2020-2021.
- Direct Subsidized Loans: Need-based, no interest until after graduation.
- Direct Unsubsidized Loans: Not need-based, interest starts immediately.
- Private Loans: Be cautious, as they often have high-interest rates.
Obtaining a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL):
Family Resources
Food Stamps and Emergency Assistance:
New Jersey offers financial help for food and emergency medical needs. Check your eligibility by clicking here.
Childcare and Education Opportunities:
This guide covers options from birth through college, including daycare, head start programs, charter and public schools, vocational high schools, pre-college programs, college selection, and special education. It also explains how to get financial assistance and scholarships.
Renew Graduates
