OAR of Fairfax County, Inc

OAR seeks to rebuild individual lives and create safer communities. Criminal behavior and recidivism is obviously costly, results in the waste of human potential, and negatively impacts the community. OAR programs and services are designed to drastically reduce the tendency for justice-involved community members to relapse into criminal behavior. OAR programs seek to: 1) change criminal behavior and break the cycle of crime; 2) assist individuals with the transition from incarceration to the community; 3) address emergencies at the time of release from incarceration and guide individuals to financial self-sufficiency; 4) provide specialized assistance for the unique needs of the population and; 5) limit overall criminal justice system costs that result from recidivism.

OAR is the only non-profit service provider in the region that offers pre and post-release reentry services for the target population. The ability to serve individuals pre-release and continue services post-release makes the OAR service model unique. This approach builds relationships and trust with the target population. An established relationship allows for better continuity of services and increases the likelihood that members of the target population will follow through on services plan goals that lead to greater self-sufficiency and success. OAR services are also unique because they take a dual approach that: 1) addresses the practical needs of those returning to the community after criminal justice involvement and, 2) addresses the criminogenic risk factors that often lead the target population to return to criminal behavior. In order to comprehensively meet the needs of the client population, OAR uses the Risk-Needs-Responsivity (RNR) approach. RNR is an evidence-based framework for assessing and assisting justice-involved individuals. The approach revolves around three principles: 1) the level of service should match the individual’s risk of reoffending (Risk), 2) criminogenic needs (factors that make someone more likely to re-offend) should be targeted and addressed (Need), and 3) interventions should be matched to the individual (Responsivity). Adherence to the principles of RNR sets OAR services apart from other providers and is a best practice in the field of offender reentry services.

OAR is governed by a volunteer Board and managed by a five-member Director’s team. Eighteen staff members and over 130 active volunteers are responsible for the implementation of OAR programs and services. Organizational oversight, leadership, and expertise is provided by a volunteer Board currently comprised of 14 members and the OAR Executive Director. Board members have diverse expertise and skill sets. Board members serve on organizational teams and this provides a platform to share their expertise and collective knowledge for the benefit of the organization. The Director’s team provides organizational oversight, guidance, and direction to staff and volunteers. The Director’s team has over 60 years of cumulative experience with OAR programs and services and consists of the Executive Director, Director of Programs, Director of Reentry Services, Director of Operations, and Director of Development. OAR has successfully implemented comprehensive pre and post-release reentry services for nearly 50 years. OAR has established relationships with criminal justice partners that provide access to local jails and detention facilities for staff and volunteers. OAR also maintains a relationship with researchers at George Mason University in order to ensure effective program evaluation. OAR has also collected, tracked, and reported outcome data for over 12 years, that demonstrates the value of our services and the impact that our services have on those we serve.

In 1971, the local OAR office was established with a vision of citizen visitors helping jail inmates. In 1992, OAR began to secure resources to augment the all-volunteer staff with paid professionals with the education, knowledge, and training to implement services. In 1998, OAR began a partnership with researchers at George Mason University to validate OAR services through research and to perform program evaluation. OAR launched a certified Batterer Intervention Program to address violence in intimate partner relationships in 2001. Also in 2001 OAR expanded its use of volunteers to effectively meet a growing demand for services. In 2006, OAR launched a collaborative partnership to form the Virginia Serious and Violent Offender Reentry (VASAVOR) program to provide intensive services to members of the target population that posed the greatest risk to the community. In 2010, with resources from a Federal Grant, OAR redeveloped our mentoring program to meet best practice standards, provide pre and post release mentoring services, and to provide greater support and training to volunteers. OAR made a shift in 2010 in the reporting of outputs (i.e. number of clients served, number of services provided) to the reporting of outcomes using results based accountability. By 2012 OAR began implementing Evidence Based Practices and redesigned our client service model to mirror the Transition from Jail to Community model established by the National Institute of Corrections and developed specifically for local jail populations. In 2015, OAR began enhancing services in Prince William and Loudoun Counties. OAR dedicated resources acquired from the Commonwealth of Virginia, the United Way, and other community funders to increase services for community members in those regions. In 2018, OAR was awarded a generous grant through Loudoun County allowing OAR to enhance jail and community-based programs for Loudoun County residents. From that time through 2021, OAR also worked on contract with Prince William County to be the primary provider of jail based reentry services at the Prince William-Manassas Regional Adult Detention Center. OAR strives to be a national model for effective offender reentry services.