West Boylston - Citing an ongoing commitment to inmate rehabilitation, Sheriff Guy Glodis announced today two grants that will assist with post-incarceration services and inmate parenting education.  The grants, awarded by the Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts Inc., will help fund the Almost Home Program and Pernet Family Health Service Inc., respectively.

"Over the last year we've been working tirelessly to reduce recidivism through inmate programs and services," Sheriff Glodis stated.  "These two grants will allow us to work with local agencies to invest directly in these programs."

The Almost Home Program, administered by the Dismis House in Worcester, is a 12-bed residential program to address substance abuse, job readiness and rehabilitation for high-risk former prisoners, to reduce homelessness and criminal relapse among former prisoners from the Worcester County House of Correction.  The Dismis House, which operates a similar facility in Worcester, boasts a 75% success rate among participants.  The grant award is for $35,000.

Pernet Family Health Services Inc., in partnership with YOU Inc., the Fathers and Family Network and the Sheriff's Department, will receive $35,000 to provide parenting education to incarcerated and recently released fathers and support their efforts to establish a positive relationship with their children.

Sheriff Glodis concluced: "We are all bound by the same goal: to make sure inmates don't come back to prison.  By working with Dismis House, Pernet, and YOU Inc., today we are one step closer to achieving that goal."