NOTICE REGARDING FOUNDATION OF HOPE SERVICES DURING THE EVOLVING COVID-19 (CORONAVIRUS) CRISIS

The HOPE staff remains committed to our mission of providing incarcerated individuals, re-entrants, and juveniles with basic needs assistance and other forms of emotional, pastoral, and social support. We recognize that the added stress of the current crisis can be frightening, frustrating, and confusing.

Based on the various mandates and recommendations from local, state, and national authorities, as well as healthcare experts, HOPE will be implementing the following operational protocols, effective immediately:

AFTERCARE OFFICE

• No walk-ins will be accepted. You must call 412.321.3343 to schedule an appointment.

• Our computer lab, including internet access, IS available for individual one-hour sessions by appointment.

• If you are facing an immediate emergency or dealing with a personal crisis, please call 911 or RESOLVE CRISIS CENTER at 1-888-796-8226.

CHAPLAINCY

• Effective Monday, March 16, all volunteers are barred from entering the Allegheny County Jail. This includes volunteer chaplains, worship teams, group and study leaders, religious advisors, etc.

• Staff chaplains are providing care to the staff and inmates in the jail.

DIVERSION

• The Diversion Program is meeting youth/families in the office by appointment. Please call 412.321.3343. If a staff member is available, we will meet with walk-ins.

MENTORING

• Virtual Mentor Visits Can Resume! If your mentee’s pod is under quarantine when your visit is scheduled to occur, you will receive an email canceling your visit. Please make sure to check your email before joining a visit with ACJ mentees.

• If you have a mentee in the community, you can communicate with them via phone, text, email, etc., as long as you are not connecting face-to-face.

• If you have a mentee in an SCI or FCI, you can continue writing/calling/emailing them as you have been, but you cannot have face-to-face visits.

• If you have a mentee in ACJ, you can write to them during this time using the following address and guidelines: https://alleghenycounty.us/jail/inmate-mail.aspx. Mail must be placed in a white envelope and addressed as follows:

Return Address:

Your Name
C/O Foundation of HOPE
540 Suismon Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15212

Mentee’s Address:

Mentee/Inmate Name
DOC Number (found on either your blue form or your match letter. If you don’t know your mentee’s DOC number, contact Anais at 412.321.3343)
Allegheny County Jail
950 Second Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15219

PRE-RELEASE

• As of October 26, 2020, all HOPE Pre-Release volunteers are still prohibited from entering the Allegheny County Jail. This includes volunteer instructors, mentors, therapists, tutors, book recorders, etc.

• HOPE Pre-Release staff is currently in the office several days a week, and we are available by email Monday through Friday.

• HOPE Pre-Release staff is currently distributing class materials to HOPE participants via packets containing instructional and homework materials.

• Please check your email and this page for regular updates.

As conditions change, we will adjust our operations accordingly. Updates can be found on this page at www.foundationofhope.org/coronavirus as well as our Facebook Page. Please know that our primary concern is protecting the safety, health, and well-being of the people we serve, our staff and our volunteers.