OPERATION GATEWAY

OPERATION GATEWAY

Decreasing recidivism by addressing the social determinants of health of returning citizens

GATEWAY HOME: Journeys of REENTRY

The Operation Gateway Story

About Operation Gateway

  • Decreasing recidivism by addressing the social determinants of the health of returning citizens. OG has developed a model to leverage the lived experience of certified Community Health Workers (CHW) who are formerly incarcerated and active in addiction recovery to assist in navigating the barriers faced when reentering society. OG has deep roots in the affected community.

  • Operation Gateway (OG) utilizes formerly incarcerated Community Health Workers (CHW) with lived experience with the reentry process. A Community Health Worker is a frontline public health worker who is a trusted member of and/or has an unusually close understanding of the community served. This trusting relationship enables the worker to serve as a liaison/link/intermediary between health/social services and the community to facilitate access to services and improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery. A community health worker also builds individual and community capacity by increasing health knowledge and self-sufficiency through a range of activities such as outreach, community education, informal counseling, social support and advocacy.

  • OG approaches advocacy much the same way we approach serving returning citizens, by building trust and relationships with stakeholders. OG founder Philip Cooper has been in workforce development for several years and has a regional reputation. Employers, nonprofit leaders, and government officials are taking steps to support returning citizens that were unheard of before based on their trust in Philip and the results he’s delivered. When the work of OG is done, returning citizens will have the support they need to navigate the complex process of re-entering because the system will have changed to accommodate the unique needs of this population.

  • OG connects with incarcerated persons before they are released from prison to assess their needs, including but not limited to identification, housing, driver’s license restoration, healthcare, education, workforce development, and reconnections with family. This assessment results in an Individualized Reentry Plan that will inform services provided.

  • OG will welcome the person home upon release and ensure continuity of care. We will provide transportation to their first appointment (mental health follow-up, healthcare, parole, etc.) and establish a sustainable transportation plan for future appointments. We secure the following resources upon reentry:

    Housing

    Food (SNAP and Food Box)

    Vital Record Obtainment (ID/DL, SS Card, Birth Certificate, HS Diploma/GED Transcript)

    Cell Phone

    Physical Exam at MAHEC

    Clothing and shoes

    Career Services

    Recovery/Faith

    Community Connections

  • The first 90 days of the relationship will be the most intensive. There will be multiple contacts the first week, and weekly check-ins for up to 90 days. We will follow up with participants for up to a year and they are always welcome to attend the support groups as alumni.

    OG will work to secure matching funds so that citizens are supported and set up for success.

An initiative borne from lived expertise

Advocate. Collaborate. Educate

The Advocate. Collaborate. Educate. (A.C.E.) Initiative is intended to slay the behavioral health stigma, especially as it relates to historically marginalized populations that are reentering their communities after periods of incarceration. 

volunteer with Us

volunteer with Us

We are seeking volunteers who are passionate about aiding in transportation to and from recovery meetings in the Asheville area. Continue below if interested.

Snap ban video project

WATCH THE OFFICIAL TRAILER BELOW!

〰️

WATCH THE OFFICIAL TRAILER BELOW! 〰️

A Video Short centering and amplifying the voice of six powerful individuals who have re-entered from incarceration and indefinitely banned from food stamps due to their convictions.

Their stories bring into question a policy that indiscriminately punishes while expecting those re-entering society to do better—Videography by Major Moments, and executive Production by Counterflow for Operation Gateway.

AWARDS

tHe Attorney general Dogwood Award 2023

Created in 2017, Attorney General Josh Stein gives an annual award to honor North Carolinians who are dedicated to keeping people safe, healthy, and happy in their communities. In November of 2023, Mr. Philip Cooper was awarded The Attorney General Dogwood Award for his outstanding work pro-equity in serving the formerly incarcerated community and beyond.

Recovery Role Model Award

Awarded to Philip Cooper, in recognition of his passion to end stigma in the recovery field.  

Black Wall Street LEgacy award

Congratulations to our Chief Change Agent, Philip Cooper, for being voted the Community Leader 2024 through the Black Wall Street Legacy Awards in Asheville.

change agent Youtube channel

Stay up to date with the latest lived expertise content with our Founder and Executive Director’s YouTube Channel.

--

thanks to our partners