Prison Ministry
The men who volunteer to participate in the Houses of Healing program that is run at the Corrigan-Radgowski Correctional Center have been wounded by two often related poisons: One is substance abuse. The other is some version of child abuse. They have resorted to using a variety of chemical substances as a coping mechanisms, which in turn has led to their incarceration.
Most of these men will be released from prison, and the majority of them will return to the same communities and face the same issues that led them to prison in the first place. Robin Casarjian, founder of the Lionheart Foundation and author of the book used in the program, describes Houses of Healing as “an emotional competency program, equipping individuals with the tools to effectively manage emotions so that they might heal and go on to live responsible, decent, dignified lives.” The role of the program’s facilitators is to encourage, through support and motivation, personal insight and genuine emotional rehabilitation. Houses of Healing is intended as a course in emotional literacy skill-building.
Most of these men will be released from prison, and the majority of them will return to the same communities and face the same issues that led them to prison in the first place. Robin Casarjian, founder of the Lionheart Foundation and author of the book used in the program, describes Houses of Healing as “an emotional competency program, equipping individuals with the tools to effectively manage emotions so that they might heal and go on to live responsible, decent, dignified lives.” The role of the program’s facilitators is to encourage, through support and motivation, personal insight and genuine emotional rehabilitation. Houses of Healing is intended as a course in emotional literacy skill-building.