History of the Building Block Program
The Building Block Program concept was developed due to a Youth Violence Workshop conducted in October 2016. From that \Workshop. a need was identified for more classes, which led the peer Educators to create a Violence and Its Alternatives class. This class was divided into two (2) groups; Youthful Offenders and Older Offenders. The two groups were brought together to discuss what they had learned. From this discussion, we learned that students needed an environment where they could start to live the change. An environment that would help the students gain skills that will give them the best chance to re-enter society successfully. One that was predicated on peer-driven programming.
In the Spring of 2017, a meeting with Danville Correctional Center Administrative staff, ClinicalServices staff and Peer Educators, resulted in moving forward towards creating a student-centeredprogram for Offenders that was unique to Danville Correctional Center.
Peer Educators, along with Clinical Services staff, began researching the effectiveness of peer-mentored programs in carceral settings and how such a model could be utilized at Danville Correctional Center. In the Summer of 2017, the initial proposal for a Compliance/Program Wing was presented to the Clinical Services staff. The wing proposal would offer a series of mentor-facilitated classes and holdparticipants, as well as mentors, facilitators, and peer educators, to higher standards. The concept was approved by the Administration and implementation of the program began.
The Building Block officially opened on February 01, 2018, with fourteen (14) mentors, three (3) tutors, and ninety-five (95) participants. The following programs were offered to all participants: Lifestyle Redirection, Men of Integrity, Life Plan Writing, Job Skills Preparedness, Financial Literacy, Effective Communication, Anger Management, Parenting, Criminal Thinking, Alcoholics Anonymous; Art Workshop and ABE/GED Tutoring sessions. Following the success of the initial Building Block wing, a second wing was opened on August 01, 2018. Then, on March 18, 2019, a third Building Block wing was opened, followed by the opening of a fourth Building Block wing on August 01, 2019. In April of 2021, the initial Building Block Wing 48 was rededicated as the Danville C.C. Re-entry Wing, and a 5th Building Block wing was opened on June 12th, 2021, on R3B.
Our Philosophy
The philosophy of The Building Block Program is based upon the recognition that peer driven programs within acarceral setting have proven to be effective in changing the behaviors of the Offender population. In addition, creating an environment where participants feel comfortable in their personal growth allows for a feeling of acceptance. The feeling of acceptance can be somewhat difficult to find in non programming wings.
The Building Block Program utilizes a reciprocal learning model where mentors and participants learn from and with each other. Most programs follow a cognitive behavioral therapy format that focuses on changing one’s thinking as the catalyst to creating new behaviors.
The Building Block Program offers Offenders the ability to begin the process of change within a supportive environment. The goal is for each participant to create new positive behaviors so as to give him/her the best chance for successful re-entry into society.