OBK & LSSI Joint Project

OBK & LSSI Terminate Joint Project (2018-2021)

Our Brothers’ Keepers of Southern Illinois (OBK) and Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI) in conjunction with Lutheran Family and Prison Ministry (LFPM) of Marion, IL signed a joint project agreement on February 14, 2018 to provide reentry services to men and women
returning citizens from prison and jails who would locate to St. Clair County. This agreement would provide for mutual cooperation between OBK and LFPM in establishing the reentry center and the development and networking required to deliver the service that are needed by the
clients.

The official opening of the OBK-LSSI reentry center was on May 11, 2018 and located in a small office area of New Life Community Church, East St. Louis, IL. The opening was attended by a large gathering of people from various agencies, the Illinois Department of Correction, and
OBK staff and volunteers who would work in the program. A series of keynote speaker made presentations and the six videos from the program are included for review. In addition, a large number of pictures were taken that showed the excitement and interest of many of the project donors and friends.

The OBK-LSSI project agreement signed on February 14, 2018 was extended for 2018-2019, 2019-2020 and 2020-2021. OBK informed LSSI on February 16, 2021 that they would not sign a new joint project agreement for 2021-2022. OBK communicated an “extension of project grant
agreement” that would extend the existing agreement until April 30, 2021. This would allow OBK and LSSI to resolve all issues related to client file liability and confidentiality, computer, printer and copier resources and other contractual details related to insurance and payroll. These
issues were resolved jointly as part of a “transition agreement” so that OBK could operate independent of LSSI. The transition was completed on schedule and all issues were resolved to the satisfaction of both parties as of May 1, 2021. This transition from LSSI was necessary so
that OBK could pursue the expansion and development of their staff and volunteers, contract with IDOC, and also to pursue options to apply and secure funding from foundations and State and Federal grants in particular related to OBK Reentry Services.