From Lake County News

CLEARLAKE, Calif. — The Lake County Probation Department hosted its fifth annual Resilient Reentry at Woodland Community  College on Friday, Oct. 9.

Twenty-seven community organizations set up tents in front of the Ed Miller Business Lab, offering resources to homeless and justice-involved people. In addition to the tents, several groups gave presentations, celebrated achievements and detailed services offered by the county. 

People who completed Reentry Programs offered by the California Workforce Development Board were given certificates signed by California State Senate Majority Leader Cecelia Aguiar-Curry. 

“We were looking for a way to inspire those on probation with the stories of those that have made it through the system and have changed their lives,” said Chief Probation Officer Wendy Mondfrans.

The day ended with the Lake County Public Defender’s Office, who gave a brief presentation on how to expunge eligible offenses from criminal records. 

Lake County consistently ranks in the top 10 for crime and drug use rates, co-occurring with high rates of poverty, according to District 2 Supervisor Bruno Sabatier. 

“Personal choice does account for something — we need to take on that responsibility. But we’re not changing things in Lake County fast enough to give your families, your children and your next generation better choices,” said Sabatier.

…“I’m a childhood trauma survivor. I experienced every single kind of abuse that there was, and it really changed my worldview,” said keynote speaker Caressa Smith. “I remember the first time I went to juvenile hall. It wasn’t a punishment. I felt safe there — I knew where I was going to lay my head at night. There was no one harming me.”

…Of the over 30,000 people released annually from California’s state prison system, about a fifth are released directly into homelessness, according to a 2024 public policy thesis by Monica Davalos, and many more into six-month transitional housing. 

Without other support, six-month transitional housing is often not enough time to obtain identifying documents, stable employment, healthcare, more housing and a small amount of savings. If any of these fall through, many living in transitional housing become homeless or incarcerated again.

In Smith’s case, being released into homelessness led her back to drugs. This is a common experience; an increased risk of sexual assault, open leg wounds, frostbite, other physical stressors of homelessness and accessibility to drugs lead many to self-medicate. 

…Luckily, Athena House in Santa Rosa, a recovery facility with a reentry job search program, had an unexpected opening. Smith stayed there for a few months before finding a job at KFC, and has been employed since. 

Now, she is getting a Masters at Cal Poly Humboldt, and is working towards becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. “I couldn’t have done it without the support around me,” said Smith.

A tattoo removal truck offers its service every six weeks at the Lower Lake office on highway 53 with 40 appointment slots that are usually filled. Those interested in getting their tattoo removed should contact the Lake County Probation office. 

The organizations participating in Resilient Reentry are listed below.

• Lake County Public Health
• Lake County Behavioral Health Services
• Lake County Child Support
• Narcotics Anonymous
• Indigenous Wellness Alliance
• SafeRx Lake County
• Lake County Library Literacy Program
• Redwood Credit Union
• Lake Family Resource Center
• Lake County Campus Woodland Community College
• Career Team
• Hope In Humanity Inc
• Healthy Start
• Redwood Community Services – Integrated Health of Lake County
• Catholic Charities of Northwest California
• Supporting Bright Futures
• Hilltop Recovery Services
• Adventist Health Clearlake
• Lived Experience Advisory Board
• Lake County Fire Safe Council
• UnCuffed
• Lake County Fire Resource Conservation District
• Fran’s House
• California Tribal TANF Partnership
• North Coast Opportunities

Read the full article here.