Our Services

OUR SERVICES

When a client comes into contact with Span for the first time, a Span case manager makes an initial assessment and works with the client to develop a specific service plan. The plan is customized to meet the individual’s needs in order to ensure that s/he has the tools needed to avoid returning to prison.

Plans can include any combination of the following services:

Case Management

Career Development Services

Health Services

Peer Support

Clients in some Span programs may have access to short-term rental assistance if they meet certain qualifications and based on funding availability, which is limited.

Adolph Grant Center

	CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES Case Management is integrated into most of Span’s program services. Through individual meetings and telephone contact, case managers work directly with clients to assess needs, develop service plans, assist with discharge planning, and provide other hands-on assistance as needed. In addition to providing direct services, case managers also help clients access entitlements to meet basic needs, such as MassHealth or other subsidized health care, Social Security and food stamps. Case managers can also assist clients in securing affordable housing, employment, food, clothing, transportation, and other resources to meet basic needs. In addition to providing direct services, Span case managers also provide supported referrals for clients in need of mental health and/or substance abuse treatment, often accessing collaborating providers. Clients are also assisted to take steps toward reaching personal goals related to enriching their quality of life, such as becoming involved in their community through social activities, volunteering, etc.
	CAREER DEVELOPMENT SERVICES Prisoner Re-Entry Initiative (PRI) The objectives of PRI are for recently released clients to find work and develop career goals. PRI supports clients in achieving these goals in several ways: By offering an optional two-week stipend-based job-training program and by referring clients to The Workplace - a Span partner that serves as a One-Stop Career Center for the City of Boston. Clients also have the opportunity to work toward reaching their PRI goals with the help of Span-trained volunteer mentors.
	HEALTH SERVICES Criminal Justice Substance Abuse The Criminal Justice Substance Abuse (CJSA) program provides substance abuse assessment, individual counseling, and group counseling for people on parole, federal probation, or who have been referred by a regional re-entry center. CJSA also provides case management to support the process of transition and treatment. Treatment lasts for a period of twelve weeks, after which long-term aftercare is offered in a group format. HIV Health Education Span works to improve public health and the health of the client by providing education-based programs and workshops that teach clients how to prevent contracting, as well as spreading, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Span offers individual and small group learning sessions that address various health issues and help clients access health care services. Through its Comprehensive Risk Counseling Services (CRCS) program, Span collaborates with the Boston Medical Center’s Project Trust to provide free, on-site HIV testing. CRCS staff also offer individual counseling to clients who are at very high risk of contracting HIV. Case Management for HIV+ Clients Span offers both short-term and long-term, health-service specific case management for clients living with HIV. Span works with individuals who are being released from prison or who have been in the community for some time. Clients are assisted in their own efforts to achieve and maintain healthy outcomes after release from prison. Case managers work to ensure that medical and social services are in place upon resettlement in order to guarantee continuity of care and preserve the health of the client. Clients receiving HIV case management may be eligible for up to 3 months of rental assistance depending on funding availability. Substance Abuse Counseling For those clients struggling with substance abuse, Span’s trained clinicians offer substance abuse assessment, and individual and group substance abuse counseling. Span clinicians also provide specialized counseling to dually diagnosed clients (those dealing with both mental health and addiction related issues). Clients are either referred from Parole Release Centers or are HIV+ and referred from Span’s HIV Case Management program.
	PEER SUPPORT SERVICES The Adolph Grant Center Named after a long-time Span staff member and former client, The Adolph Grant Center is a safe place for clients with HIV to develop social and recreational skills that can enhance their ability to live their lives without crime and drugs. At the Center, Span provides nutritious, family-style meals, a safe and drug-free environment, activities, events, and job search tools. Support Groups Span staff offer daily support groups where peers can support each other to address the issues of relapse prevention, reintegration and social skills development. Span also provides two weekly peer-led support groups, one of which is conducted in Spanish.

CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES

CAREER DEVELOPMENT SERVICES

HEALTH SERVICES

PEER SUPPORT SERVICES