LFS Mission & Vision:

Mission:

To help individuals 18 years and older reach greater potential by providing effective mentoring programs, housing, education/training, and other services. We focus on empowerment and self-efficacy that prepare an individual for society reentry and community integration.

Vision:

To have a world with a reduction In women’s recidivism.

“This year, some 600,000 inmates will be released from prison back into society. We know from long experience that if they can’t find work, or a home, or help, they are much more likely to commit more crimes and return to prison…. America is the land of the second chance, and when the gates of the prison open, the path ahead should lead to a better life.”

--President George W. Bush,

2004 State of the Union Address

According to the United States Department of Justice - Over 10,000 ex-prisoners are released from America’s state and federal prisons every week and arrive on the doorsteps of our nation's communities. More than 650,000 ex-offenders are released from prison every year, and studies show that approximately two-thirds will likely be rearrested within three years of release.

Services Available:

Transportation

About

Latanya Family Service (LFS) is a pioneering reentry program committed to empowering women as they transition from incarnation to reintegration into society. Our holistic approach addresses not only the immediate needs of our participants but also equips them with the tools and skills necessary for sustainable success.

Why LFS Is Vital:

According to the report prepared by prisonpolicy.org, Women’s Mass Incarceration: The Whole Pie 2023 Report, almost 2.5 million women and girls are released from prisons and jails every year, but few post-release programs are available to them — partly because so many women are confined to jails, which are not meant to be used for long-term incarceration.

Moreover, reentry is another critical point at which women are too often left behind, almost 2.5 million women and girls are released from prisons and jail every year, but few post-release programs are available to them – partly because so many women are confined to jails, which are not meant to be a used for long term incarceration.

Three major focus areas

● Progressive Independence

● Referral Connections

● Sustainable Housing

LFS aids with reclaiming, reintegrating, and refining lives providing services and resources with reentry into society, breaking the cycle of recidivism.

LFS aids to restore The Human Gem back to a sparkling diamond, that’s ready to shine bright and thrive again

as a productive citizen.

Latanya Lockhart, Founder

I am Latanya Lockhart. Nice to greet you – let me share a little about myself. I was born and raised in the Chicagoland area. I love attending worship services, listening to gospel music, bonding with family, exercising, and uplifting and encouraging people from all walks of life. Throughout my life and career, I have held leadership positions in which it was my responsibility to lead by example and support distressed colleagues.

I had no idea that this would be my passion, my calling. Here is where it all started. I landed a job at the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and was promoted to higher-level positions during my career. As we know, with promotions, you are expected to lead, guide, support, and be a mentor. As I continued my career at CTA, I pursued my passion through other entities. Recognizing that I strongly desired to help others and pursue my passion in greater depth, I retired from CTA in 2018 after 28 years of service.

After retiring, I ignited my passion and devoted my time and resources to helping ex-offenders adjust to life after incarceration. Through my experience, I know firsthand there is a great need to help ex-offenders because they face many challenges after being released from prison.

As I mentioned, from a first-hand experience, I had an opportunity to assist an individual recently released from prison. Operating on the premise that America is the land of a second chance, I went full speed ahead. I offered guidance and support, cultivated relationships with key agencies, and provided linkable medical, dental, and career readiness resources. Through this experience, my passion grew deeper to help others who may be challenged with re-entering society. This experience helped me recognize that an individual's re-entry to the community can be daunting after prison. The proper guidance and support are needed to integrate back into society successfully. Moreover, this requires a changed mindset, positive affirmation, and a network of resources and opportunities.

I understand and recognize the need as I continue to pursue these endeavors. The pivotal plight is the need to be a voice, an advocate, and help ex-offenders reintegrate into the community. Given this, I am up for the challenge and vow to help these individuals with transitional housing, securing employment, social support groups, and other viable resources. The overarching goal is for ex-offenders to become empowered to stand alone, persevere, and thrive in their communities –so that the path ahead will be a better life.

Basic Healthcare Screening

LFS assists clients with getting basic healthcare screenings to improve healthcare access and ensure our clients have a healthy start to the re-entry process. These screenings include:

• Medical history assessment
• Vital signs measurement (blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature)
• Vision and hearing screenings
• Drug testing

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Case Management

LFS provides case management services to clients to effectively coordinate services and offer holistic support based on individual needs. Our case management service includes:

• Assess client needs, strengths, and challenges.
  
• Develop personalized case plans.
  
• Set and monitor achievable goals.
  
• Connect clients with essential resources.
  

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Counseling

LFS offers referrals to counseling services in a supportive and non-judgmental environment to assist clients during re-entry. Our referrals include:

• Individual counseling that is confidential and personalized, including personal growth and development.
  
• Family counseling helps clients improve communication, resolve conflicts, and strengthen relationships with family members.
  
• Addiction recovery to support clients in overcoming substance abuse and developing a healthy, sober lifestyle.
  
• Crisis intervention counseling that is short-term and highly focused to address severe emotional distress.
  

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LFS

Credit Repair or Establishment

LFS assists clients with either establishing or repairing credit because good credit is often key to achieving long-term goals.

• Teach clients how to obtain copies of their credit reports from the top three reporting agencies and determine their current credit score.
  
• Educate on building or maintaining positive credit histories.
  
• Dispute and resolution of inaccuracies on credit reports.
  
• Working with creditors to remove negative entries.
  
• Assistance with debt consolidation and debt management.
  

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Financial Literacy

LFS helps clients gain the knowledge and skills to make informed financial decisions to empower clients to achieve financial security and independence. We provide:

• Guidance on responsible financial practices.
  
• Resources and tools for making informed decisions.
  
• Educational programs and workshops.
  

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Housing Assistance

LFS provides clients with safe and stable housing during the re-entry process. This service includes:

• Immediate shelter or emergency housing
  
• Rental assistance
  
• Housing counseling
  

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Job Readiness

LFS prepares clients to return to the workforce. Our job readiness service includes the following assistance:

• Skills training
  
• Career development resources – job listings, workshops, online tools
  
• Collaborations with local businesses to create job opportunities.
  

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Mental Health Counseling

LFS knows the importance of good mental health and desires our clients to live happier, healthier lives. We refer clients to counseling sessions tailored to individual needs:

• Experienced counselors
  
• Experienced therapists
  
• Experienced psychologists
  

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Mentorship

LFS connects clients with experienced mentors who share encouragement and invaluable wisdom throughout the re-entry process. Our mentors offer:

• Guidance and support
  
• Empowerment
  
• Personal and professional development
  
• Meaningful community
  

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Transportation

LFS can provide referrals for accessible and reliable transportation to:

• appointments,
  
• job interviews, and
  
• essential services.
  

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