Howard House
Eligibility
Howard House is a community residential centre for adult male offenders on day parole, full parole, statutory release, a temporary release, or a probation order. We accept referrals from Correctional Service of Canada and the Provincial Department of Justice.
General Program Description
Howard House began operation in April 1977, and it provides a wide variety of support services to its residents. Howard House residents are expected to use their time constructively by participating in programming and/or pursuing their educational or employment goals. Each resident is assigned a counsellor who assists them in meeting this expectation and who provides necessary support through individual counselling. Those residents who require specialized intervention in such areas as addictions, parenting skills, family violence, or sexual behaviour will be referred to the appropriate programs.
Howard House allows three levels of privileges based on individual performance. All residents’ levels are reviewed on a weekly basis and are based on the resident's compliance with the conditions of their release, fulfilment of house expectations, attitude, relations with staff and other residents and progress in relation to case plan.
The process of community re-integration is fostered by providing residents with assistance in budgeting, housing, and employment searches.
Residents may be expelled from the program if they consistently fail to co-operate with house expectations or neglect to comply with the conditions of their release. Expulsion normally occurs following consultation between the Director and the sponsoring agency.
Specialized Services/Additional Program Features:
Howard House offers a Moderate Intensity Management of Offender Substance Abuse (MIMOSA) program. This program was developed to provide substance abuse intervention using a variety of treatment strategies. Its goal is to assist offenders in making informal lifestyle changes conducive to prosocial behaviour that contributes to criminality, reducing the client's risk to reoffend.
Howard House also provides seminars on impaired driving, AIDS, and sexuality. These seminars are conducted by victims of impaired driving, the Newfoundland AIDS Committee and the Department of Health respectively. Howard House also connects those residents in need of literacy training with Laubach tutors.
Prison Liaison/Family Services Program provides supportive counselling and related services to federal inmates and their families. This includes the annual Family Visit Program where selected family members visit relatives incarcerated in maritime federal prisons. There is also a resource center available to families looking for information on federal institutions.
Staff Resources
- Director
- Residential Counsellor
- Addictions Coordinator
- Program Coordinator (2)
- Volunteer Coordinator
- Prison Liaison/Family Services Coordinator
- Office Manager
- Night Supervisors (2)
- Community Reintegration Coordinator
Volunteer Resources
Through the Volunteer Program, Howard House employs on the average 14 volunteers. Our volunteers assist staff with supervision and clerical tasks and assist residents with tutoring, seeking accommodations, budgeting, shopping, filing income tax returns, job search applications, etc. The volunteers also manage the recreation program and participate in such annual events as the JHS Christmas Party for disadvantaged children.
Other Notable Features
The JHS Employment Counsellor provides Howard House residents with general job search, career decision making, aptitude testing, skills enhancement (upgrading, post-secondary training etc.) and assistance in developing current resumes. Ex-residents can return to update their resumes as needed.
Contact Information
Director: Rod Harris7 Garrison Hill
St. John's, NL
A1C 3Y7
Tel: (709) 722-1849
Fax: (709) 722-2414
rodharris@jhsnl.ca