Support Strategies

1. No surprises!!!!
   a.  Get approval ahead of time & make sure you keep your boss informed
   b.  Keep custody staff informed of schedules, changes, substitutions
   c.  Keep all program staff informed and working together so the program office
        presents itself as a unit
   d.  Keep inmates informed of program changes and cancellation so attendance levels
        stay up
    
2. P.R.
   a.  Speak in community & to organizations
   b.  Articles in local papers about programs and volunteers
   c.  Have volunteers go through training before starting and part of that training is meeting
        custody staff
   d.  Advertise upcoming programs with the inmates
    
3. Get people inside the jail
   a.  Community tours
   b.  Bring community groups in
   c.  “Open Houses”
   d.  Recruit volunteers
   e.  Inform local volunteer coordinator of needs in the jail
   f.   Place ads in local newspaper
    
4. Media positive
   a.  Invite media in to observe program
   b.  Encourage inmates to write letters about positive experiences
   c.  Give media information about money saving program and the use of volunteers
   d.  Show media positive benefits of programs
    
5. “Adopt a Program”
   a.  Get community organization to adopt a program for a year
    
6. Salesmanship    
   a.  Be positive and emphasize benefits of jail programming to jail administration,
        sheriff, staff, and community
    
7. Schmoozing, networking with colleagues, peers, etc.
    
8. Gather, include support
    
9. Investment – personal, $$, etc.
    
10. Document program stats
    a.  Amount of program hours
    b.  Amount of volunteer hours
    c.  Amount of inmates attending programs
    d.  Number of volunteers
    e.  Use percentages to show:  money saving, staff time saved
     
11. Recognize and award volunteers
    a.  Yearly awards banquet
    b.  Send birthday card
    c.  Send yearly thank you with amount of hours volunteer helped

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