The LINK | LINC, Inc. February 2024 Newsletter

The LINK | February News & Updates from LINC, Inc.

LINC Leadership React to Governor Cooper’s Executive Order

Leadership and staff of LINC, Inc., the location of New Hanover County, North Carolina’s Local Reentry Council, are reacting positively to Governor Roy Cooper’s signing of Executive Order No. 303, which establishes a unified statewide approach to reentry services for formerly incarcerated individuals. “LINC, Inc. has been providing reentry services since 2000, and established one of the first residential campuses that focuses only on people returning from prison. We believe that our work in the state over time has contributed to positive development and attention in the field of reentry,” says Frankie Roberts, LINC, Inc. executive director. “The state is putting methods and measures in place that we have been working towards over the last 15 or 20 years,” adds LINC, Inc. Deputy Director Michelle Gunn. “We commend the governor for now making it standard operating procedure for state agencies to include returning citizens in their services, as well as providing access for more educational opportunities, economic development opportunities, and health and medical support opportunities like Medicaid.” LINC, Inc. is part of a network of agencies, called Local Reentry Councils (LRC), that provide support for individuals with a legal history and their families. The LINC LRC is one of 25 Local Reentry Councils across North Carolina. LINC’s Local Reentry Council is staffed with a coordinator and case workers, whose primary goal is to be the “point of contact” for returning citizens in the local reentry council process. This includes providing comprehensive case management services to returning citizens, coordinating the community’s input in the implementation of the North Carolina Reentry Council Comprehensive Plan, providing outreach to and education on the importance of reentry to the public, and recruiting and collaborating with service providers and criminal justice professionals. Watch the interview on WECT here.

“Against All Odds. Surrender to Win.”

The 2024 Milestones Dinner will feature keynote speaker Kurtis Taylor, executive director of the Bob Barker Foundation and an untiring voice for citizens seeking long-term recovery from substance use disorders. Mr. Taylor is a vocal advocate for citizens returning to the community after incarceration. We will have lots more this evening, including recent LINC graduates, LINC Society awards, and a great buffet dinner from On Thyme Catering, desserts from Sweet D’s Cuisine, and bar service featuring the “Surrender” mocktail from Mr. Bartender.

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Thank you to these 2024 MILESTONES Dinner SPONSORS! NOVANT HEALTH – Gold Sponsor Kim Cook, Ph.D. – Silver Sponsor Seeds of Healing – Bronze Sponsor Steve Coggins – Bronze Sponsor

Items of Note | Announcements and Updates • Welcome Francis Acanfora, Facility Manager, to the LINC team. • Congratulations to PH2 client Robert Shane Arnette on getting his LLC, and starting his business, Shane Services. Mr. Arnette is an experienced tree cutter and also offers handyman services as well as gutter cleaning, garage clean-out and more. If you would like to support him you can find him at Shane Services, https://shanesservices.info/ • The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is investing $5.5 million into the FIT Wellness program, part of the North Carolina Formerly Incarcerated Transition Program in the UNC School of Medicine, to improve reentry services for the justice-involved population. FIT Wellness delivers psychiatric and physical health care services along with connections to community supports such as housing, transportation and phones for people in the state prison system who have Serious Mental Illness. • Find FREE tax help at https://www.nhcgov.com/526/VITA-Tax-Information

Frankie Roberts and Michelle Gunn joined Andrea Stough from Cape Fear Council of Governments at Eden Village of Wilmington for a tour of the “God Pod,” addressing homelessness by providing temporary shelter.

LINC’s Local Reentry Council (LRC) participated in Fresh Chance Friday, an event organized by Port City United providing community connections to assist individuals with criminal record expunction, driver’s license restoration processes, educational resources, andemployment opportunities. The LRC recently moved to the Harrelson Center in downtown Wilmington.

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LINC Calendar

Feb 14 | Happy Valentine’s Day Feb 23 | NC FIT Celebration in Durham NC Feb 28 | LINC Local Reentry Council Awareness Seminar, 9am – 12, Harrelson Center Mar 12 | Leadership Wilmington Tour of LINC Mar 21 | 2024 Milestones Dinner, Daniels Hall at CFCC info Apr 22-24 | NC Rehabilitation and Reentry Conference, Raleigh NC info Every Monday | Mental Health Mondays, 1-2pm, 801 Princess Street For information on any of these events, send an email to info@lincnc.org.

Programs at a Glance – January Stats

Thank you to Cooper Mertens for the LINC program graphics.