Howard House

Brief Description

Howard House is a 16-bed community residential center in St. John’s, Newfoundland, for adult men or individuals identifying as male on day parole, full parole, statutory release, a temporary absence, or a probation order. We accept referrals from the Correctional Service of Canada and the provincial Department of Justice and Public Safety. All residents go through a review process by an Admissions Committee to be accepted into Howard House.

Goals

The main goals of the Howard House Program are to:

• Provide supervision and support to residents who have exited incarceration and are reintegrating back into the community;
• Provide residents with assistance in acquiring income, medical services, community connections, budgeting, housing, and employment searches; and
• Provide counselling, referrals and connections to identified services which will support them in developing skills, resources and networks, and hopefully decrease the likelihood they will become involved with the law again.

Clientele

The program serves adult male, or male identifying individuals. Referrals are accepted from Correctional Services of Canada and provincial Department of Justice and Public Safety.  All must go through a structured review/application process. Individuals must be engaged in a reintegration or correctional plan. Each individual is assessed on a case by case basis, with no definitive exclusion criteria.

Core Components

The Howard House Program includes the following core components:

• Individual counselling: Residents will work with the Residential Counsellor on developing and actioning a case plan with identified goals, and requirements of release.
• Supervision: Residents are monitored for compliance with release conditions, accountability and engagement in reintegration and/or correctional plan.
• Program & Service Connections: As identified by the reintegration and/or correctional plan, residents are linked to any services and programs deemed appropriate to meet their needs.
• Life Skill Development: Residents have opportunity to engage in daily tasks which promote healthy and independent living.
• Support: Residents are supported via counselling and referrals to community services to meet identified needs.

Implementation Information

Some of the critical elements for the implementation of this program or initiative include the following:

• Organizational requirements: Limited information on this topic.
• Partnerships: Howard House program involves a partnership with the Correctional Services of Canada and Provincial Department of Justice and Public Safety.
• Training and technical assistance: Limited information on this topic.
• Risk assessment tools: Limited information on this topic.
• Materials & resources: Limited information on this topic.

International Endorsements

The most recognized classification systems of evidence-based crime prevention programs have classified this program or initiative as follows:

• Blueprints for Healthy Youth Development: Not applicable.
• Crime Solutions/OJJDP Model Program Guide: Not applicable.
• SAMHSA's National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices: Not applicable.
• Coalition for Evidence-Based Policy: Not applicable.

Gathering Canadian Knowledge

Canadian Implementation Sites

This program is available in St. John’s NL. Howard House commenced operations in 1977, under the umbrella of John Howard Society NL.

Main Findings from Canadian Outcome Evaluation Studies

No information available.

Cost Information

No information available.

References

There is no Canadian reference available at this time.

For more information on this program, contact:

Val Flynn, Manager of Adult Residential Services

The John Howard Society of Newfoundland and Labrador

Telephone: 709-722-1853

Email: vflynn@jhsnl.ca