S.M.I.L.E. (Services to Maintain Independence and Life Efficacy) INC. is a holistic, 501(c)(3) established, nonprofit, social service organization committed to encompassing the underserved African American communities and released offenders from any Department of Corrections institute aged 15-30. S.M.I.L.E.’s aim is reforming recidivism rates by restoring foundational values, whole health, and life skills through education, financial literacy, and career development. S.M.I.L.E. provides mentors and individual case managers for each individual released.
S.M.I.L.E. INC.’s vision is to bring African American communities together by encompassing and restoring underserved men, women, and youth foundational morals, whole health, life skills, and education that are seeking a better quality of life.
S.M.I.L.E. (Services to Maintain Independence and Life Efficacy) INC. is a holistic, 501(c) (3) established, nonprofit, social service organization committed to encompassing the underserved African American communities and released offenders from any Department of Corrections institute aged 15 – 30. S.M.I.L.E.’s aim is reforming recidivism rates by restoring foundational values, whole health, and life skills through education, financial literacy, and career development. S.M.I.L.E. provides mentors and individual case managers for each individual released. Each individual will then take assessments that are given 30 – 60 days prior to release. These assessments are:
The mentors and case managers are with the ex-offenders 30 – 60 days prior to release from incarceration and two years post S.M.I.L.E.’S treatments and programming.
S.M.I.L.E. INC. operates on three levels that are designed for re-entry programming. The re-entry program at S.M.I.L.E. is called, “360° BEYOND THE BARS”. “360° BEYOND THE BARS” is designed to prepare inmates prior to release how to accept the accountability for their mistakes and actions, how to rebuild their character within themselves and in the community, how to become a leader for their family and peers, how to get a job and keep a job with job etiquette skills, and the elements of financial literacy, all through a 12-week course/workshop called: “IGROW UGROW”. This course/workshop is the continuum of CBT that prepares the inmates for reunification with family and reintegration back into society while building towards gaining and maintaining self-sufficiency with permanent job placement.
The second level is the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Program which is an ongoing process throughout life, but at S.M.I.L.E. INC., CBT is an intensive three-month beginning session aimed to change negative old habits and replace them with positive new habits. CBT strategies reprogram the brain to adapt to a new environment and new challenges which births a new way of thinking and living. Actors come to the workshop and role play a scenario so the inmates can really visualize the outcomes of their negative behaviors. This form of (CBT) will begin to reverse the negative mind-sets and encompass positive change which leads to a better quality life. CBT promotes pro-social behaviors to help promote acceptance and friendships.
The third and final level is the SEMPH (Spiritual Health, Emotional Health, Mental Health, and Physical Health) services which are comprised of integrated strategies and innovative interventions which overall goal is to lower recidivism rates in the underserved Milwaukee Metropolitan area. For all details and services provided through S.M.I.L.E. INC.