Table of Contents. Introduction.. 3. Preparing For Your Release 4. Benefits of Hiring an Ex-Offender. 4. First Steps After Release...

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2 Table of Contents Introduction.. 3 Preparing For Your Release 4 Benefits of Hiring an Ex-Offender. 4 First Steps After Release Hour Hotlines.6 LegalAssistance..6 Homless/Low Income Resources...7 Florida Department of Children and Families.8 DCF Customer Service Centers...8 Employment Assistance...9 Dual Diagnosis And Mental Health..9 Education 10 Health Care Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Treatment Faith-Based Organizations Finances..13 Emergency Services...13 Transportation for the Disadvantaged 14 Other Services..14 Notes..15 2

3 Introduction A bend in the road is not the end of the road... unless you fail to make the turn. ~ Unknown One of the important objectives of the Lee County Public Safety Council s reintegration strategy is to provide organizations working with inmates, formerly incarcerated people, and their families with a resource directory in support of successful reentry and enhanced public safety. The reintegration subcommittee of the Lee County Public Safety Council has worked in collaboration with the Lee County Homeless Coalition and the Florida Gulf Coast University College of Health Professions Senior Seminar class to produce this guide. We hope to effectively reintegrate exoffenders back into their communities and improve the public safety. The purpose of this resource guide is to serve as a tool to connect you with the people and programs who sincerely want to help you succeed. We ve tried our best to include accurate and helpful information. It does not contain all the services which may be available to assist you or guarantee services are still available. We hope that you will use this resource guide to get in touch with the programs in Lee County that are here to steer you toward success in reentering the community. The Lee County Homeless Coalition is a not for profit organization. We are an advocacy group made up of community and faith based service providers, local businesses, people who are currently experiencing or who have experienced homelessness, and other advocates committed to ending homelessness. Mission Statement: To advocate, educate, and promote awareness of issues and obstacles facing homeless individuals in Lee County through community collaboration, planning and implementing solutions. 3

4 Preparing For Your Release While you are in prison: Develop your personal strategic plan. Participate in education programs Get your GED. Address personal issues through treatment for addictions and mental health counseling. Modify (change) your child support order, if needed. Work toward finding a positive place to live when released. Apply for government benefits as soon as you can. Keep in touch with family members. See if family members can send you clothing for your release (check with your institution). Get a Social Security card and birth certificate. Develop a resume seek assistance if necessary. Practice completing applications and job interviewing. Work with your case manager to prepare for your release. Benefits of Hiring an Ex-Offender Federal Tax Credit for employer Federal Bonding Programs provides insurance for employer Reliable and timely employee Skilled employees Work productivity may increase due to point of contact for the ex-offender and drug testing Ex-offender is now contributing towards the community since he or she is now a tax-paying citizen Ex-offender is less likely to recidivate and become a more productive member of society 4

5 First Steps after Release When you are released, take it one day at a time: Contact a reentry program and/or an employment program and make reason for contact clear and precise. Show respect and appreciation to all persons contacted for resources. Follow through with directions and advice given. Stay in a positive living situation. Get proper clothing and food. Find your way around know the bus system. Get a birth certificate if you don t have one. Get a photo ID/driver s license. Get your Social Security care if you don t have one. Sign up for government benefits. Keep in touch with and report to your parole officer as required. Take care of health and dental needs. Take care of mental health needs. Get help for alcohol or other drug abuse. Make arrangements for child support. Take care of childcare or parenting needs. Get more training or education. Get civil rights restored. Clean up your record and get legal help if needed. Clean up your credit and spend money wisely. 5

6 24 Hour Hotlines Name Address Phone D.C.F. (800) Anonymous Child Abuse Mental Health/ Substance Abuse Help Line Ruth Cooper Center/ Vista Behavioral Health 2789 Ortiz Ave Fort Myers, FL Abuse Counseling and Treatment 2023 Jeffcott St Fort Myers, FL Counseling, Safe Place (Spanish Interpreters Available) Actabuse.com United Way 7273 Concourse Way Fort Myers, FL Florida Emergency Information Line Smoke Free Florida Florida AIDS/HIV Hotline FEIL hotline is only operational during an emergency event Free patches and lozenges TobaccoFreeFlorida.com Dial (800) YOU- CAN-QUIT English: (800) Spanish: (800) Creole: (800) TTY: Legal Assistance Florida Bar Lawyer Referral Service Public Defender Office Lee County Justice Center Probation Department Lee County Bar Association Legal Aid Society Florida Rural Legal Services (Low Income) 2077 First St. Suite 207, Fort Myers, FL Monroe St. Fort Myers FL Monroe St. Fort Myers FL Widman Way St. Suite 600, Fort Myers FL Cleveland Ave Suite 101, Fort Myers FL

7 Hunger Resource Harry Chapin Food Bank Lee County Homeless Coalition Cafe of Life - Bonita Springs Ft Myers Rescue Mission - Fort Myers Lehigh Community Services - Lehigh Acres Salvation Army - Fort Myers St Vincent de Paul Society - Fort Myers Habit for Humanity Cape Coral Caring Center Catholic Charities Community Cooperative Ministries Inc. Homeless\Low Income Services List of Florida s Food Resources by County Fowler St, Fort Myers FL Download the Lee County Pocket Guide to Emergency Assistance. P O Box Bonita Springs, FL Food Served 10:30am, Salvation Army Monday - Friday Family Health Center kiosk every Thursday Mission Ln. Fort Myers, FL Shelter for Men Plaza Drive Suite 3, Lehigh Acres, FL Emergency assistance with food is our first priority. Past Due Notice Required when seeking financial assistance for rent, electric, and water- By Appointment Only Edison Ave. Fort Myers, FL Men s Rehab, Women/Children Shelter, Food Pantry, Corrections Lafayette St. Fort Myers FL Food Pantry, Utilities, Prescriptions 31 Willis Rd North Fort Myers, FL Housing SE 15th Ave. Cape Coral FL Emergency Food Bank electric bill assistance (when funds are available) Michigan Link Ave. Fort Myers FL Friday 9-1pm Food Pantry Diapers, Food Stamps, Citizenship Classes Bonita Springs Spanish Center- Counseling, DUI classes Haitian Center Human trafficking-prevention Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd in Fort Myers, FL Cultural Park Blvd. Cape Coral, FL Soup Kitchen Monday Saturday lunch 10:30 Monday, Tue, Thursday, Fri, Market Place (Food Pantry) Homeless Clothing, hygiene products, helps with I.D. Birth Certificate and public assistance etc. Website Only

8 Department of Children's and Families For families that need help with their financial, medical or food needs may apply for assistance: From any computer with an Internet connection at: or (866) At the Department of Children and Families ACCESS Florida community partners. At a Department of Children and Families ACCESS Florida Customer Service Center. A listing of Customer Service Centers can be found online at: Eligibility Requirements: Each application is different, but here are some examples of what you may need to know: Personal information about each person you are applying for, such as their date-of-birth, Social security number, where they were born and if they are pregnant. Information about household expenses such as rent, mortgage and utilities. Information about any vehicles. Information about any assets like bank accounts, savings bonds or cash on hand. Information about any income. The income can be earned like salary at a job, or unearned i.e. child support payments or payments from social security. US Citizenship or eligible non-citizen status, age, identity, Florida residency, etc. Languages Spoken: English, Spanish and Creole. Interpreters are available upon request. DCF Customer Service Centers Name Address Phone Fort Myers Service Center 2295 Victoria Ave - Room 110, Fort Myers, FL To apply for Benefits call: DCF ACCESS FLORIDA INFORMATION LINE Or visit this website and click on Apply On-line Now (866) (866) Client Relations (877)

9 Employment Assistance Employ Florida Marketplace Florida Department of Economic Opportunity One- Stop Career Center - Southwest Florida Works Vocational Rehabilitation Employment Website Ford Street Extension Fort Myers, FL Monday Friday 8:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. Satellite Office 1020 Cultural Park Blvd. Bldg. 2 Cape Coral, FL Summerlin Commons Way Suite 404, Fort Myers, FL SE 9th Pl. Suite 1, Cape Coral, FL Employment opportunities and Training for the Disabled Monday Friday, 8:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. Labor Finders 3814 Palm Beach Blvd Fort Myers, FL Monday Friday 5:00 a.m. 6:00 p.m. Labor Ready 2203 Fowler St. Fort Myers, FL Monday Friday 5:15 a.m. 6:00 p.m. Saturday 6:00-8:00am Lee Mental Health Center, Inc Ruth Cooper Campus Welcome Center 2789 Ortiz Ave. Fort Myers, FL Monday Friday 5:00 a.m. 6:00 p.m. U. S. Army Depending on your charges, you could get a job in the Army. Go online; your info to see if you qualify (800) ARMY U.S. Navy Depending on your charges, you could get a job in the Navy. Go online; your info to see if you qualify. Dual Diagnosis and Mental Health The Behavioral Health Center New Brittany Boulevard Suite 200, Fort Myers, FL National Alliance 6831 Palisades Park Ct. Ste. 6, Fort Myers, FL on Mental Illness Lee Mental Health 2789 Ortiz Ave. Fort Myers, FL SW Fl. Addiction 3763 Evans Ave. Fort Myers, FL Services, Inc

10 Vocational Rehabilitation Grace Community Center High Tech Center North Literacy Council of the Gulf Coast Lee County Public Schools Lee County High Tech Education 5264 Summerlin Commons Way Suite 404, Ft. Myers, FL SE 9th Place, Suite 1, Cape Coral, FL Education opportunities for the Disabled Monday Friday, 8:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m Hancock Bridge Pkwy. N. Fort Myers, FL GED: Wednesday 6:00-9:00pm Saturday, 9:00am-12:00pm Parenting Classes: Saturday, 10:00 am 12 pm Santa Barbara Blvd. N. Cape Coral, FL Monday Friday, 8:00 a.m. 3:30 p.m. FREE Learn How to Read and Write English Bonita Springs, San Carlos Park, Estero, Fort Myers, Lehigh Acres, Cape Coral, Sanibel and North Naples Colonial Blvd. Fort Myers, FL Michigan Ave. Fort Myers, FL Health Care TDD/TTY The RX outreach American Diabetes Assoc Fl. Prescription Drug Helpline Gulf Coast Medical Center Health Park Medical Center Lee Memorial Hospital Lehigh Regional Medical Center Cape Coral Hospital (800) Prescription Assistance DIABETES Assistance to Medicaid and Low-income Medicare beneficiaries whose necessary medications have been denied Doctor s Way Fort Myers, FL S. Health Park Dr. Fort Myers, FL Cleveland Ave. Fort Myers, FL Lee Blvd. Lehigh Acres, FL Del Prado Blvd. Cape Coral, FL (800)

11 American Red Cross 7051 Cypress Terrace Suite 110, Fort Myers, FL American Cancer 4575 Via Royale Suite 110, Fort Myers, FL Society Blind Services 2830 Winkler Ave. Suite 207, Fort Myers, FL The Children s 9981 S. Health Park Dr. Fort. Myers, FL Hospital of SW FL Devereux /Fort Myers Family Care Edison St. College Dental Hygiene Clinic Epilepsy Services of SWFL 6314 Corporate Court Suite B Fort Myers, FL Behavioral Health, clinical, therapeutic, educational, employment programs and services College Parkway Fort Myers, FL Kenwood Ln. Suite 28, Fort Myers, FL No Insurance, Low Income, Financial Assistance for Prescriptions Family Health Centers of SW FL. ICAN (HIV/AIDS) Lee County Health Department Salvation Army /Family Health Centers Verity Pregnancy & Resource Center 2256 Heitman St. Fort Myers, FL McGregor Blvd. Fort. Myers Fl Michigan Ave. Fort Myers FL Pondella Rd Ste 1 North Fort Myers, FL WIC, Healthy Start, Immunizations, STD, Dental Program Edison Ave. Fort Myers FL Care for Homeless Clinic Salrose Ln. Suite 240, Fort Myers, FL All Services at No Cost! unwanted pregnancies Pharmacy: Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Treatment Referral Service Substance Abuse Facilities, Low Income (800) Aim Target 3677 Central Ave. Suite H Fort Myers, FL Programs, Inc. Sliding Fee Scale, Random Drug Testing, Domestic Violence, Anger Management, Substance Abuse, Women s Batterers Intervention Classes, Spanish Classes Alcoholics Kenwood Ln. Suite 79, Fort Myers, FL Anonymous Grace Church Hancock Bridge Pkwy. N. Fort Myers, FL Celebrate Tuesday- 6:30-7:30 p.m. Recovery 13 SE 21st Pl. Cape Coral, FL Friday- 6:45 p.m. 11

12 Lutheran Services Florida, Inc. SW Florida Addiction Services, Inc Central Ave. Suite 4, Ft. Myers FL Evans Ave. Fort Myers, FL Provides detoxification, outpatient and residential programs Teen Challenge 1805 Cypress Dr. Fort Myers, FL The Salvation 2400 Edison Ave. Fort Myers, FL Army Crossroads Word of Life Church New Life Dream Center Faith-Based Organizations 2150 Collier Ave. Fort Myers Fl Month Residential Rehabilitation Program, Room and board, 3 meals per day/ 7 days per week, Food, clothing, and transportation Individual, marital, family, and group counselling, Assistance in earning a GED, Bible education through History Makers School of Ministry, Participation, spiritual, and educational conferences, seminars, and workshops, Assistance with job placement services after graduation, Medical care, Legal advocacy Ext. 231 Living Faith Church First Baptist Church Grace Community Church Love and Light Ministries Outreach Services Love and Compassion Ministries R.E.A.L. Men Ministry SW 7 th Ct. Cape Coral, FL Food, Counseling Jackson St. Fort Myers, FL Clothing, Recovery Groups, Bike Program. Every Tue. 8:00am -11:00 Showers & Food, Family Health Center Kiosk Hancock Bridge Pkwy. N. Fort Myers, FL Food, Clothing, Counseling, Recovery Groups, Education N. Tamiami Trail N. Fort Myers FL Thursday 6:00pm Food Pantry, Bible Study and Hot meal Tue. 6:00pm, Last Saturday of the Month Hair Cuts, Clothing, Hot Meal. Furniture, Life Coach/Counseling, Support Meetings Prison ministry, homeless program, street outreach, youth and drug programs Homestead Rd. N. Lehigh Acres, FL Food, Counseling, Recovery Groups Jobe s House Residential program for men and a program for women and their children We Care Outreach 4225 Desoto Ave. Fort Myers, FL Mon-Fri 9:00am-4:00pm Food, Clothing, Counseling, Recovery Groups

13 Lehigh Christian Church Messiah Lutheran Church Community Cooperative Ministries Inc. Zion Lutheran Church Fort Myers Christian Outreach Center 50 Bell Blvd. N. Lehigh Acres, FL Food Pantry NE Pine Island Rd. Cape Coral, FL Child care, Recovery Groups, Education Martin Luther King Blvd. Fort Myers, FL Food, Counseling, Education Winkler Rd. Fort Myers, FL Food, Recovery Groups Fowler St. Fort Myers, FL Food, Clothing, Child care, Counseling, Education, Recovery Groups Financial Assistance st Century C.A.R.E. Beacon Thrift Store Bonita Springs Assistance Office The Cape Coral Caring Center DCF- ACCESS Program Lee County Dept. Human Services Interfaith Caregivers of South Lee Lee County WIC Program Lee County Government 2234 Colonial Blvd. Fort Myers, FL Cancer Patient Financial Assistance 5465 Pine Island Rd. Bokeelia, FL Bernwood Dr. Suite 6, Bonita Springs, FL Southeast 15th Ave. Cape Coral, FL Food, Electric Bill Assistance (when funds are available) Victoria Ave. Fort Myers, FL Food Stamps, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Medicaid Thompson St. Fort Myers, FL Housing, other Rockefeller Circle Fort Myers, FL Food, Financial Assistance th Street West, Suite 106, Fort Myers, FL Pondella Rd. N. Fort Myers, FL WIC Checks -Food for Pregnant Women, Infants and Children Emergency Services 2115 Second St. Fort Myers, FL Family Emergency Plan, Evacuation Routes, Special Needs Program, Public Shelter, Emergency Supply Checklist, All Hazards Guide, Healthcare Facility Information, Hurricane Preparation Guide

14 Lee County Sheriff Dept. Emergency Medical Services Six Mile Cypress Fort Myers, FL Emergency Emergency: Transportation for the Disadvantaged Cape Coral Mini- Bus Service 400 Santa Barbara Blvd. Cape Coral, FL Transportation for disabled and elderly (Appt. Only 2 days notice) Cape Coral Only vice.aspx F.I.S.H. Sanibel 1630 Periwinkle Way Suit B, Sanibel Island, FL Transportation, Food Pantry, Meal Delivery, Health Equipment, Emergency Financial Services (for those who live, work, or visit Sanibel and Captiva Islands) Goodwill -Four Wheels for Work 3333 Fowler St. Fort Myers, FL Good Wheels Bavaria Rd. Fort Myers, FL Lee Tran (Lee County Transit) 6035 Landing View Rd. Fort Myers, FL Other Services (800) LEE-TRAN Social Security (SS) SSI (Supplemental Security Income) SSI (Social Security Disability Ins.) SSDI Department of Motor Vehicles Lee County Veteran Affairs Vital Statistics/Birth Certificates Colonial Blvd. 1 st Fl. Ft. Myers, Fl Social Security Card, Proof of Income, Disability th Ave. Cape Coral Thompson St. Fort Myers Lee Blvd. Bld. Suite 6, Lehigh Acres Limited Driver License Serv. Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm Thompson St. Fort Myers, FL Pondella Rd. N. Ft. Myers, FL (800) (888) Customer Service (850) (800)

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