Jenny Odom said she loves all the ways she can invest in the people at the Pregnancy Test & Resource Center in Jasper. But one of his favorites is the one that takes his staff out of the center every Tuesday and puts them behind bars.
“We call it our Second Chance program,” said Odom, PTRC executive director. “We have some of the best conversations…on this show.” Women are very honest; They have nothing to lose.”
In the Second Chance program, incarcerated women who participate eat dinner together and then take a class on a parenting or life skills topic.
Courses range from car seat safety and SIDS to substance abuse and resume writing.
“It helps us give them a foundation of what a healthy relationship is supposed to look like, this is what a healthy lifestyle is supposed to look like,” Odom said.
The program began about a year and a half ago when she and a friend from the Walker County Jail were part of a community action team and began discussing ways their work might overlap.
“He had just mentioned that it would be great to have someone come and talk to these moms who have had this or that experience, or who have a lot of risk factors,” Odom said. “Many had lost custody of their children and were working to enter rehab. »
“We can guarantee it”
She said that when they started the program, they found a woman in the classes who they knew because she had visited the PTRC before.
“Since we had seen her, she had been on drugs and had been arrested several times,” Odom said.
The woman was able to enter rehab shortly after.
“It helps when they want to go to rehab to say, ‘Hey, I took these classes,’ and we can vouch for them,” Odom said.
PTRC staff also hope to give them the skills needed to continue into society, but the path is sometimes winding.
The woman they knew who had gone to rehab later became pregnant and ended up at PTRC. The staff was able to help him cope with all the changes in his life and stay on track.
“She had her baby and is doing wonderful,” Odom said. “We’re trying to help her continue on the path she’s on, but she’s doing really well – it’s like day and dark compared to how she was before.”
For many women, both in and out of prison, the PTRC is a support system that helps them with resources and lets them know that they are not forgotten when they go through difficult times in prison. life.
Resources available
“We perform pregnancy tests and ultrasounds, and we offer prenatal and parenting education programs for expectant moms and dads,” Odom said. “We also have a variety of resources like a clothing closet and the ability for parents to get baby items and diapers.”
She said during the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of people they serve has increased significantly; in 2022, they have almost doubled compared to the previous year. So they started looking to move, and in September they were able to move into a space twice the size of their old building.
“We have more space to grow and operate,” Odom said.
Outside their walls, they also grow. In addition to their jail work, their mobile unit allows them to provide services to people in Walker, Winston and Marion counties. This includes offering a one-day baby boot camp at churches in different locations for expectant moms and dads who are not close enough to the center to be able to attend the regular parenting classes.
“We’re always trying to think of new ideas, new ways to help our community,” Odom said. “Our ultimate goal is to share them and guide them into a relationship with Jesus if they don’t have it.”
