Eligibility
Any person who meets the criteria is eligible to apply for a membership of a Core Group, with the following exception:
Seventh Step Programs
Community Outreach Presentations
Sharing our stories with community groups, schools, universities and treatment centres teachs audiences about the criminal justice system, what it’s like to leave an institution, what supports are available and how the 7th Step Society fills the gap in services for people who have had conflict with the law.
Institutional Core Group
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The Core Group shall not include any individual as a member, if that membership would in any way, deter the participation of the primary target group, the hard-core, “solid con” from involvement.
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The core group is the self – help component of the organization. Membership is comprised of offenders, ex-offenders and non-offenders. Most of which are community volunteers.
View the Criteria for Core Group Membership
- Applicant is sincere in the desire to get out of the criminal justice system and more importantly, stay out.
- Applicant must make a personal commitment to change their lifestyle.
- Applicant must adhere to the basic self-help concept as philosophized by the organization.
- Applicant must be willing to accept the offender, the ex-offender, the non-offender as equal parts of the change process.
- Applicant must be willing to learn self-discipline through exercising self-control, which may involve some sacrifice of former lifestyles.
- Applicant must strive to abide within the law, regardless of personal or moral conviction.
Peer Support Training
This program is designed to introduce the principles of peer support & the role of a peer support worker. It covers the fundamental aspects of peer support to serve as the basis for program individuals to begin their journey in the peer support field. This training program is facilitated across Canada.
Core Group Membership
Membership
An individual must be voted in by their peers either in the institution or at a community Street Meeting. It is required the candidate attend 4 consecutive meetings and be hot seated on the 4th meeting. The person must receive 100% of the vote from the people in attendance.
Once you are voted in, you are eligible to attend any 7th Step Core Group or Community meeting in Canada. There is no cost to this membership, however it is limited to the meetings as described above.
Taking Responsibility (TR) Program
This program focuses on our 7 Steps: how can we change, change negative thoughts, attitudes, and behaviours through accountability of past transgressions as well as being accountable for current choices. In addition: discussions of strengths and weaknesses (including how those strengths can help to succeed in the community), being real, honest and responsible, goal setting, problem solving, and developing new coping skills and strategies. We discuss how having the desire to “do something different” with their lives is what will assist with their successes – including staying away from negative people, things, and events that originally led them away from their freedom. The 7 steps act as guiding principles for our members as they navigate life.
Community & Street Meetings
Meetings
These meetings are ongoing on a weekly basis and are a means of support and encouragement for a member of the community. They could be newly released, living in a residential facility or on full parole. The Street Meetings provide ongoing continuity of the program and offer a place to come and discuss any life issues that could deter them from remaining on the street.
A strong component of volunteers is needed to facilitate these meetings. These volunteers can be offenders, non-offenders or ex-offenders. We are a grassroots organization and can usually operate on strictly a volunteer basis.
