Day Program

Gemma’s Day Program is a 9-week series of diverse life skills classes, preparing women in jail for their reentry. Classes take place approximately 12 hours per week at a learning location outside of the jail. Currently only women at the Blaine Street minimum-security jail are eligible for participation in the Day Program. Gemma staff screens, interviews, and enrolls 6 to 8 women at a time, giving priority to those who will be homeless upon their release from jail, and who have long incarceration histories.

The Gemma Day Program Coordinator is responsible for:

• Recruiting and supervising volunteer instructors.
• Creating and maintaining a diverse curriculum.
• Recruiting, accepting, transporting, and supervising students.
• Planning and hosting program graduation.

Gemma’s Day Program is a modified version of The Day Reporting Program of The Program for Women and Families in Allentown, Pennsylvania that has been successfully serving women in jail since 1993. The initial focus of the Day Reporting Program was to help women transitioning out of the criminal justice system secure employment. Since 1998, the program has evolved to meet the complex and diverse needs of women offenders. The primary purpose of the Day Reporting Program is to reduce recidivism and high-risk behaviors among women working their way out of the criminal justice system by measurably improving their life skills (e.g. problem-solving, decision-making, communication, conflict management), academic skills, parenting skills, personal financial planning skills, and job readiness.

Participation in the Day Program is a prerequisite to living in the Gemma residence after release. Women who participate in the Gemma Day Program and do not have a safe place to live upon release will be eligible to apply for the Gemma Residential Program. If one party deems that Gemma is not a suitable program, or if the residence is full, other housing options will be sought before a woman is released to homelessness.