Kaleidoscope Personal Development
Wrapping Our Arms Around You
Don't Count Me Out has partnered with public organizations and private businesses to ensure our young people and their parents have viable jobs and substantive employment.
Through our Kaleidoscope Project, we provide emotional, physical, mental, social and spiritual well-being training. But it begins with our 3-day and 2-night Survival Empowerment Retreat. This is what happens at our Empowerment/Survival Retreat (see below)!
For all those qualifying, Kaleidoscope will provide a 3-day, Survival and Empowerment
Retreat. The workshop is dedicated to prepare participants to end unhealthy behaviors
that lead to an unhealthy lifestyle and oftentimes incarceration.
They are geared toward breaking the cycle of homelessness and chronic unemployment.
Participants will experience physical and emotional challenges that will put them on the road to making a positive lifestyle change. It involves a therapeutic experience to build commitment to the program and encourages strong group bonding. It will introduce the mental, physical, emotional, social and spiritual components of the program.
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We provide job placement support for our parents and personal development training. Our approach is holistic and geared toward the entire family.
A New Beginning
Additional Information
Judge Terrinne L. Gundy chose to participate in this Atlanta Bailout project because she personally believes in giving those desiring it, a second chance, as long as there is accountability. As a person who grew up in the depressed area of Jacksonville,’ Florida, Judge Gundy has witnessed first hand the struggles of those living in poverty. The life changing component of the Bailout is the Kaleidoscope Empowerment/Survival Retreat.
All over the nation, millions of dollars have been raised to pay bond money for the Black Mama’s Bailout. Atlanta Municipal Court Judge Gundy changed the need for the bail money when she released 14 men on signature bonds for Father's Day to Monique James, Executive Director of the non-profit, Don't Count Me Out.
Ninety-percent (99%) of the fathers released reported being in foster care, experiencing sexual abuse and having a parent in jail as a child. Our primary objective is to break the cycle. Our target is the entire family with a special focus on the children. It’s important for children to see their parents experience achievement and being incarcerated is just the opposite. According to one estimate (Baunach,1985), 70% of young children with incarcerated parents had emotional or psychological problems. Children exhibit internalizing problems, such as anxiety, withdrawal, hypervigilance, depression, shame and guilt (Bloom & Steinhart, 1993; Dressler et al., 1992). They exhibit somatic problems such as eating disorders. And, perhaps most clearly, young children exhibit externalizing behaviors such as anger, aggression, and hostility toward caregivers and siblings (Fishman, 1983; Gaudin, 1984; Johnston, 1995; Jose-Kampfner, 1995; Sack et al. , 1976).
High school age children of incarcerated parents exhibit school-related problems and problems with peer relationships. Sack et al. (1976) reported that over 50% of the children of incarcerated parents had school problems, such as poor grades or instances of aggression, albeit many of these problems were temporary. as children reach adolescence, suspension and dropout rates are higher for these children (Trice, 1997).
Don't Count Me Out builds communities by making each family strong, one member at a time.
Julian McFarland thanks Judge Gundy for the release.