M.A.N.A NOW

The MANA Program started in June of 2010, when Hamilton County Sheriff Simon Leis, Jr., asked David Fulcher to volunteer, design, and facilitate a life skills program for the Hamilton County Justice Center (HCJC) adult male inmates in conjunction with the HCJC Adult Education Program. Sheriff Leis chose David for this program because of his passion and dedication to helping incarcerated men by offering them a second chance. Fulcher not only utilized the help and support of his family, but he also met with the education staff. Together, they designed a transformational mentoring life skills program based on principles set forth in the

book, The Talent Code, by Daniel Coyle. The HCJC Adult Education Program staff was already using the principles in Coyle’s The Talent Code, in their classroom. The four principles: Deep Practice, Over Time, With Self Ignition, and Master Coaching; changed the focus of the adult education program by placing the responsibility for learning on the adult learners themselves. The results were astounding. The GED pass rate went from 78% to 93% ranking the program as one of the most successful Correctional GED programs in the State of Ohio. David and the education staff were convinced that these same principles would apply to and positively affect a specially crafted life skills program. They believed if we educated them to the pathway, identified the obstacles, and coached the inmates on how to practice a better way of behaving, via the MANA Program, they would be able to identify the path to a better life. They were convinced that to help inmates not re-offend upon release and live productive lives, the inmates must desire to change, and practice the skills or actions of the “new” behavior long enough to set in the new way of being and action.

 

The MANA Program is designed as a, “bottom-up” organization utilizing input from the inmates it was designed to serve. It would provide continued mentoring and coaching upon release from jail, with the addition of training qualified MANA interns towards eventual employment within the MANA organization. MANA is composed of inmates in which approximately 90% are involved with drugs – buying and selling, robbery, delinquent child support, and occasionally an assault. 84% of these men report that they have had no positive male role model in their lives. These men are not in jail for long, just long enough to lose jobs, destroy

family relationships and ruin lives. 

 

After collaboration with the inmates, 11 areas of specific life skills were identified: Fresh Start, Image, Forgiveness, Justice, Parenting, Relationships, Education, Identifying Myself/Getting Around/Housing, Working/Banking & Credit, Drugs & Alcohol/Health & Medical & Community Conflict & Resolution. The program is designed as a coaching/mentoring program.. Inmates meet twice a week in the education classroom and they are required to attend all 11 sessions. Classes include a video presentation and handouts of each presentation requiring thought, collaboration, oral presentations, action plans, and weekly assignments. The goal is to help these men take self-action to become positive productive members of society and learn how to guide future generations. 84% of these men report that they have had no positive male role model in their lives. We believe the criminal cycle can be altered through life skill education and mentoring. Learning what skills are needed, practicing those skills over and over, becoming aware of and using their own initiative and effort to re-direct their behavior and having master coaches/mentors guide them in their development, a man canchange himself.