Bakersfield, CA, June 16, 2021 – CityServe announced today its RESPECT program (Re-Entry Services Promoting Effective Community Transition) as an awardee of The Adult Reentry Grant Program by the Board of State and Community Corrections. CityServe’s collaborative network of churches and community leaders in Kern County will provide family counseling, intensive case management, and housing and job support to newly released prisoners.

“CityServe continues to empower the local church to address community issues that are plaguing individuals and families,” states Karl Hargestam, CityServe Executive Director. “The RESPECT program is a new way churches can serve those who are seeking a new way of life for themselves and those they love.”

CityServe will address the need for family counseling, employment, and housing support in Kern County among men and women formerly sentenced to and released from state prison, through a program created to reduce the likelihood of recidivism. RESPECT will work with clients currently incarcerated in a pre-release program and provide intensive warm hand off services, in the community, upon their release. RESPECT will provide intensive case management services and referrals, including, but not limited to, substance abuse treatment, housing, and employment services. Individual and family counseling will be provided to strengthen the vital support that family can provide for successful reentry. Committed project partners include Kern County Probation, Kern County Sheriff’s Office, and Tehachapi State Prison, as well as local evaluators, nonprofit housing, substance abuse treatment, and employment service providers.

About CityServe

CityServe is a collaborative network of churches and community leaders connected to help those in need live better lives. CityServe empowers the local church to fulfill its purpose to overcome despair and transform lives by resourcing them with tangible goods and capacity building. CityServe brings the church to the table to address community challenges by offering long-lasting relationships that lead to transformation and has been designated a “Community of Faith and Opportunity” by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. For more information about CityServe and its initiatives, please visit www.cityservenetwork.com or on social platforms @cityserve_network.