Questions
| Questions & Answers |
Table of Contents:
What is the mission of Deaf Prison Ministries (DPMN)? “Deaf Prison Ministries Network shall be organized to meet the needs of Deaf people who are directly or indirectly affected by crime, including organizations in the restorative process, according to Christian principles.” What is the mission of Healing Hands Ranch (HHR)? “Restoring the lives of Deaf men impacted by crime, through the healing hands of Jesus Christ.” What is the relationship between DPMN and HHR? Organizationally, Deaf Prison Ministries Network is the parent organization of Healing Hands Ranch. Legally, Healling Hands Ranch is a DBA of Deaf Prison Ministries Network and functions as one organization. Is DPMN a charitable organization? Yes, DPMN is a non-profit charitable corporation organized under the laws of Illinois, USA and is physically located in Willis, Texas, USA. The organizational roots go back to 2000; however, DPMN became a non-profit 501(c)3 organization with tax exempt status in the United States in May 2004 and successfully completed the standard probationary period September 2008. Fully audited, DPMN is listed as a charitable organization on DonorHouston and Guidestar.How and why did DPMN come into existence? DPMN was born out of a burden for the lack of services and ministries to the Deaf incarcerated in America at the request of Prison Fellowship in 2000. In 2000, during the D-E-A-F conference in Lisle, Illinois, a task force was formed and met over a period of two years to brainstorm and develop a national ministry to the Deaf who are in prison. We recognized the great need for resources, training, assistance and general information to help the many individuals and churches effectively reach the Deaf in prison in their local areas. This ministry was subsequently named Deaf Prison Network (DPN) and became formally established in 2003 with the launch of our first conference. In 2004, DPMN emerged from the success of DPN to more fully respond to the critical needs of the Deaf affected by crime and seeks to serve them as a way to improve our society and the lives of the Deaf. DPMN formally organized as a non-profit 501(c)3 organization when the bylaws were drafted to better reflect the purpose of the ministry which incorporated in 2004. Deaf people who are affected by crime represent one of the most under served groups of people in our country. Deaf people who find themselves in the judicial process often lack equal access to services and proper communication in order to adequately represent themselves. As a result, our nation’s correctional facilities find themselves with a small population of frustrated inmates whose needs are not adequately being met. Traditionally those needs have fallen on the hands of a sympathetic cellmate, a caseworker or the correctional institute chaplain without much success in fully meeting them. More often than not, Deaf inmates will go through their entire sentence without ever having their needs meet. Research has shown that over 90%, Deaf inmates will return to prison after release. It is estimated that there are about 6 to 10 thousand Deaf inmates in America's prison system and we have identified only a handful of individuals and ministries with any focus on reaching out to the Deaf in prison. Those individuals and ministries are often working alone and have little or no resources available to them.
How and why did HHR come into existence? Our focus had been to be a central point of contact between hearing prison ministries, correctional institutions, criminal justice departments, local churches and existing Deaf prison ministries to more effectively reach out to the Deaf affected by crime. Our services were not limited to Deaf inmates, but included Deaf ex-offenders, Deaf people who have family members that are incarcerated, and Deaf people who are victims of criminal activity. By 2005, it started to become clear to us that there was a great need for a program to help previously incarcerated Deaf individuals to receive job training, education and support so they could be successfully re-integrated into society. In March 2006 we were approached with an opportunity to purchase a 27-acre piece of property that was formerly an aftercare facility for ex-offenders. We knew that this opportunity was the “missing piece” of the puzzle and by faith, bought the property and named it Healing Hands Ranch. HHR is the world’s first and only aftercare facility exclusively for Deaf ex-offenders. Our initial vision to establish a national ministry to the Deaf who are in prison is now an ongoing reality. Additionally, this vision has been surpassed with the opening and operating of Healing Hands Ranch, our initial endeavor in service expansion and the world’s first aftercare facility for Deaf men coming out of prison and facilitating their successful reentry into society. This national program was originally designed to create an honorable, safe, and successful community re-entry experience for Deaf men on parole. This concept has progressed further as we also serve Deaf men on probation and to work with the judicial system as a court-ordered alternative to incarceration. Whether directly or indirectly affected by the criminal act, community support is needed for the Deaf in all educational, judicial, legal, correctional, rehabilitative, and community reintegration processes.
Who are DPMN's Board of Directors?
Further information is available on our staff page.
What services does DPMN offer? We’ve successfully established ourselves as the premier provider of services with a three-fold purpose for its existence: Networking, Development and Ministering. These three purposes together define our vision.
While DPMN will continue to operate and expand the vital networking and referring, our scope is broadening to allow us to reach all Deaf people who are affected by crime in any manner. We have identified the need to drastically expand our services, increase our direct work with the Deaf, and deepen our focus on research and development. This includes advocacy, education, prevention, rehabilitation, and community reintegration; and, incorporates interpersonal, personal and spiritual growth and maturity.
HHR’s comprehensive services include a focus on education, character development, communication, coping skills, literacy, and responsibility. It is designed to create an honorable, safe, and successful community re-entry experience for Deaf men on parole, probation, or court-ordered residency by facilitating personal and spiritual awareness and growth. This one to three year program encompasses academics, Bible study, life skills, rehabilitation for addictions, and vocational training as well as placement.
Where does your funding come from?
A large percentage of our income comes from individual donations and churches. For our 2006-2007 fiscal year, we received:
Our fiscal year runs from October 1 - September 30th. Our 2007-2008 report will be ready in January/February 2009. DPMN sends out an email newsletter every month. This newsletter has donation buttons to click on and make a donation either by mail or with a credit card. This income source has generated a few hundred dollars per year. If you would like to make a donation, please visit our donation page. We are striving to have 50 churches to pledge a monthly support. This far, we have less than 10 churches supporting us monthly. We are prayerful regarding being awarded further grants from foundations.
Do you have audited financial statements? Our financial statements are audited for each fiscal year and are compliant with generally accepted accounting principles. The latest audited financial information is 2007 as 2008 is being completed at this time.
What are you doing toward becoming self-sufficient financially?
There is a unique component in our strategic business plan called Business Ventures where it lists potential opportunities for Deaf Prison Ministries Network to become partially self-sustaining. Each business venture will have a manager and will be supported by residents, staff and / or volunteers.
A Business venture presents a win-win-win solution for Deaf Prison Ministries Network, its residents and the community. By offering business ventures, DPMN will be able to generate income to support its operations while at the same time offer our residents job training and an opportunity to earn their own income and provide services to the community. It is conceivably possible that some of our residents will continue to work in our business ventures as managers and/or supervisors after they complete the program at Healing Hands Ranch as a long term employment option. Some of our business ventures will be initiated by DPMN and others will be collaboration between DPMN and other businesses in the community that are interested in entering into a subcontract agreement. DPMN may need to consider establishing a for-profit entity of our organization in order to meet the federal requirements to conduct non-business-related transactions.
Deafhand Services is now our business venture "arm" of Healing Hands Ranch. Through Deafhand Services, our residents are given a variety of opportunities to gain employable skills while they are going through their program at Healing Hands Ranch. The idea is that, upon completion of their program, they will have a more attractive resume for successful employment. This unique service provides a three-way win-win solution that benefits community participants, our residents and our organization!
Do you have staffing and/or volunteer opportunities? Yes, we have a need for a resident manager and an administrative assistant. Currently, these are unpaid positions, but will become paid positions as the ministry grows. Volunteers are a very critical component of every successful non-profit organization. We are always in need of volunteers for a wide variety of opportunities. Current needs include an administrative assistant, mentors, tutors, teachers, and drivers. Further details can be found on our support us page.
Do you have a long-term strategic plan? Yes, we have a comprehensive 5-year strategic business plan. Further details will be available soon on this web site. By the end of 2012, we will be a resource with the ability and success of offering assistance in the form of direct or indirect mentoring, networking (with follow-up), services, support, teaching, and / or training to a national and international customer base comprising of any and all Deaf individuals (regardless of age, criminal history, gender, location, medical status, or mental health status) and their families affected directly or indirectly by crime (or at risk for same) and those who work with them.
A key feature of Deaf Prison Ministries Network is our belief in and our dedication to doing God’s work in doing all that is possible to restore the lives of the Deaf impacted by crime. This is our advantage for success as it reflects the essence of our organization's beliefs and values; and, defines its place in the world.
Do you have any planned events open to the general public? One of the major events of Deaf Prison Ministries Network is to host an annual conference each year in September to allow people who are involved in ministering to the Deaf affected by crime to network, learn and build relationships from each other which goes a long way in making their efforts to minister to the Deaf more effective. Details of the 2009 conferences will be announced soon and the 2010 conference will be at HHR in Willis, Texas. We update our website with details about the conferences as they become available.
We will host our second annual open house / fund-raising event during Fall 2009. “Branded-At-The-Ranch” was held on October 24, 2008 and was a huge success with almost 200 people in attendance and over $5,000.00 raised. Details of this event featuring the award winning Christian band “Branded” can be found at BrandedAtTheRanch.com. Details regarding 2009 will be available on this web site as they become available.
How can I contact your organization?
What are your exact financial needs? There are a variety of tangible items that we have a need for, including vehicles, facilities construction and renovation, property improvements and purchases, and technology. Please visit our needs link to see a current and more specific list of needs. As a charitable organization, the vast majority of our necessary support for operation comes in the form of donations from individuals, then from grants and churches. We do not receive government funding at all. Your donation to Deaf Prison Ministries Network will help us reach out to the Deaf affected by crime. Deaf Prison Ministries Network is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. All donations are tax-deductible. Your donation to Deaf Prison Ministries Network will help us reach out to the Deaf affected by crime. Deaf Prison Ministries Network is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. All donations are tax-deductible. Please visit our donate link to send us your gift.
Why do I keep seeing the word "Deaf" with a capital "D" even in the middle of sentences? This is easily clarifies, very interesting and comes as a surprise to most people. In this document, professional literature, and in the Deaf community, the term “Deaf” refers to people who are culturally deaf where their primary mode of communication is the use of Sign Language. It is recognized that there are people who are not culturally deaf, such as people who became deaf later in life due to age, noise abuse, combat or medical situations. The needs of culturally deaf people are very unique from those who are not culturally deaf. Deaf Prison Ministries Network’s focus is on the culturally deaf people, although, we may make some provisions for the non-culturally deaf person as there are cases where non-culturally deaf people do become integrated into the culturally deaf community.
|