MY FIRST 72 HOURS
The First Three Days Matter. Start With a Plan.
My First 72 Hours is a structured, trauma-informed reentry education program designed to help individuals prepare for the critical first three days following release from incarceration.
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The transition from a highly structured environment into the community can bring unexpected challenges, competing responsibilities, and difficult decisions. This program helps participants identify immediate priorities, anticipate potential barriers, and develop realistic plans for navigating their first 72 hours.
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Through practical scenarios, guided planning exercises, and step-by-step activities, participants prepare for essential needs including housing, transportation, identification, healthcare, medications, supervision requirements, support systems, and recovery stability.
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The goal is to help participants leave incarceration with a clear, individualized action plan and practical strategies for responding when circumstances change.
WHAT PARTICIPANTS WILL LEARN
PREPARE
Identify immediate needs before release and develop a realistic plan for housing, transportation, identification, healthcare, appointments, supervision requirements and other essential responsibilities.
PRIORITIZE
Learn which tasks need attention during the first hours and days after release, organize responsibilities, anticipate potential barriers and develop backup plans when things do not go as expected.
PROTECT
Recognize high-risk situations, reconnect with healthy supports, establish recovery-focused routines, and make decisions that protect stability, recovery and successful reentry.
OUR EVIDENCE-INFORMED APPROACH
My First 72 Hours incorporates CBT-informed strategies, Motivational Interviewing principles, trauma-informed practices, problem-solving, skills development and strengths-based reentry planning. Activities help participants anticipate challenges, identify immediate priorities, strengthen decision-making, develop backup plans and prepare for the critical transition from incarceration to community life.
MY FIRST 72 HOURS — 12-WEEK CURRICULUM
WEEK 1:Â BEFORE I WALK OUT THE DOOR
Identify immediate priorities, important documents, contact information, appointments, supervision requirements medications, transportation, and other needs that should be addressed before release.
WEEK 2: WHERE AM I GOING?
Develop a clear plan for safe housing and transportation, including backup options if the original plan changes or becomes unavailable.
WEEK 3: MY FIRST 24 HOURS
Create a step-by-step plan for the first day after release, including where to go, who to contact, required appointments, basic needs, medications, meals and avoiding people, places, or situations that could threaten stability.
WEEK 4: IDENTIFICATION & IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS
Identify the documents needed for employment, housing, benefits, banking, healthcare, and other services and develop a plan for obtaining anything that is missing.
WEEK 5: APPOINTMENTS & SUPERVISION REQUIREMENTS
Organize probation or parole requirements, treatment appointments, healthcare visits, required reporting and other time-sensitive responsibilities to reduce the risk of missed obligations.
WEEK 6: HEALTH, MEDICATIONS & BASIC NEEDS
Plan for medications, healthcare, food, clothing, hygiene, communication, and other immediate needs that support physical well-being and stability during the first days after release.
WEEK 7: EMPLOYMENT & MONEY
Identify immediate employment and financial priorities, create a realistic spending plan, and develop practical next steps for income, banking, benefits and meeting basic expenses.
WEEK 8: MY SUPPORT SYSTEM
Identify trustworthy people, recovery supports, community resources and professionals who can provide guidance, encouragement, accountability or assistance during the transition.
WEEK 9: AVOIDING HIGH-RISK SITUATIONS
Identify people, places, situations, thoughts and emotions that could threaten recovery or successful reentry and develop specific strategies for responding safely.
WEEK 10: WHEN THINGS DON’T GO AS PLANNED
Prepare for transportation problems, housing changes, missed connections, closed offices, financial barriers and other unexpected challenges by developing realistic backup plans.
WEEK 11:Â MY FIRST 72-HOUR SCHEDULE
Create a practical hour-by-hour and day-by-day plan for the first three days after release, prioritizing required appointments, basic needs, recovery supports, responsibilities and healthy routines.
WEEK 12: MY 72-HOUR ACTION PLAN
Bring everything together into a personalized reentry plan containing important contacts, housing and transportation arrangements, appointments, supervision requirements, medications, support resources, high-risk situations, backup plans and immediate goals.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
PARTICIPANT WORKBOOK
Action-focused lessons, planning exercises, checklists, self-reflection activities and practical assignments designed to prepare participants for the first three days after release.
FACILITATOR GUIDE
Session objectives, teaching points, discussion prompts, suggested activities and guidance for helping participants identify barriers and develop realistic plans before release.
72-HOUR REENTRY TOOLS
Immediate-needs checklists, important-contact planning, housing and transportation plans, appointment and supervision tracking, high-risk situation planning, backup plans and a personalized 72-hour action plan.
WHO THIS PROGRAM IS FOR
CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES
Structured, trauma-informed reentry education that helps incarcerated individuals prepare for their first 72 hours after release by identifying immediate needs, organizing responsibilities, developing realistic action plans, and anticipating potential barriers.
SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT PROGRAMS
Facilitator-ready educational materials that complement substance use treatment by helping participants plan for immediate recovery needs, maintain continuity of care, connect with support systems, and manage high-risk situations following release.
RECOVERY & REENTRY ORGANIZATIONS
Practical reentry planning education that helps individuals prepare for housing, transportation, identification, appointments, supervision requirements, and other essential responsibilities during their first three days in the community.
COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS
Structured educational programming for organizations supporting justice-involved individuals as they navigate the critical transition after incarceration, access essential resources, establish stability, and follow individualized reentry plans.