Project Backpack- Enhancing Community Well-Being

Fundraising events take place May 21st in Salem, and May 28th, in Woodburn.

58.8% of the inmates leaving these confines at the Marion County Jail have been homeless at one time or another in their lifetimes

(Monmouth, Oregon) - Project Backpack is an effort initiated by students at Western Oregon University that provides a backpack with hygiene products and other essentials to every homeless inmate exiting a Marion County correctional facility.

The Northwest Regional Office of the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice (CJCJ), endorsed by the Marion County Sheriffs` Office, is striving to help individuals achieve successful and productive transitions into the community after incarceration.

The group aims to enhance employability, self-esteem, and community well being while reducing chances of re-entry to the corrections system.

The goal of the project is to provide all persons who are homeless when released from Marion County jails with a backpack that includes daily hygiene products, small stationary items, basic clothing necessities, and listings of employment opportunities, social, medical and mental health resources, and first aid supplies.

Backpacks and supplies will be given to Marion County Sheriff Raul Ramirez for distribution during mid to late June.

Fundraising events, including a car wash, bake sale, and yard sale, will be held in Salem at Les Schwab, 1710 Lancaster Dr NE from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Sunday, May 21st.

Another event that will assist is in Woodburn at Shop`n Kart, 1542 Mt. Hood Avenue from 11:00 AM. to 4:00 PM., Sunday, May 28th.

Project Backpack originated from the Marion County Children of Incarcerated Parents Initiative.

Last July, the non-profit group Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice, a located on the campus of Western Oregon University, conducted research that produced statistics specific to Marion County as part of a contract with the Children of Incarcerated Parents Initiative.

A survey of 442 Marion County inmates revealed that 58.8% of respondents had been homeless at some point in their lifetime and that 73% of participants were parents. Each year approximately 5, 000 (or 25%) of individuals released from Marion County jails are indigent.

With the support of Marion County Sheriff Raul Ramirez, the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice has worked to provide mentors to parents incarcerated at Marion County jail. Mentors help parents to access mental health and treatment services and resources for parenting, education, employment, and housing. Mentors also assist parents in formulating plans for re-entry and transition.

Project Backpack, an idea originally proposed by Samantha Fleming, a Master`s candidate at WOU, came about because of a need recognized by the CJCJ mentors as they worked with parents before and after release. Currently, Jennifer Lief, the Assistant Director of CJCJ, Rebecca Ambrose, a senior Community Crime Prevention major, and Stephanie Wiley, a senior Law Enforcement major dedicate most of their time to the project.

Your donations are tax deductible (Federal Tax ID# 94-131-6811). Please make checks payable to "CJCJ" and send to 345 N. Monmouth Ave., Monmouth, OR 97361. You can help us make a difference and your donation will aid in the success and future of our community. For more information, you may visit www.cjcj.org or call 503-838-8912.