Guardian House can help facilitate the exchange of legal documents.

How to Get Started

• Both parties must contact Guardian House and schedule an intake interview to enroll in our services. Staff will NOT contact the other party to schedule an intake interview.
• All paperwork, required documentation and fees from both parties must be submitted before the enrollment process is considered complete.
• After the enrollment process is complete and before visitation begins, a Child Orientation will be conducted with each child participating in supervised visitation services.
• After the Child Orientation is complete, both parties will be contacted by phone to let them know that the non-custodial party may now begin requesting visits.
• In the event that services do not begin, the intake paperwork will only remain on file for six months. After that, the intake interview and intake fee will have to be completed again to have an active intake, or to start services.

Records

Guardian House uses a third party service to provide copies of client records upon receipt of subpoena. Subpoenas must be hand delivered; faxed or emailed subpoenas will not be accepted. The attorney is responsible for paying fees and coordinating delivery of copies with the third party service. Guardian House is not part of this process.

Upon subpoena, the Custodian of Records will testify or make depositions regarding observations made during visits. For court hearings we request that the Custodian of Records be placed on-call, and be notified 30-40 minutes prior to taking the stand.

Fees for Custodian of Records:

Retainer – $750
Preparation & Coordination – $75
On call – $200/day
Court appearance – $100/hour (includes travel time)

A charge of 35% will be added to the total amount if payment is made with less than three business days prior to the appearance of the Custodian of Records.

Click here for Required Order for Sliding Fee Scale

Our therapeutic environment ensures children aren’t exposed to negative or violent interactions and can express genuine responses to both parents without “guilt.” Often, when there is a history of conflict, children don’t want to show happiness at seeing one parent for fear they will “hurt” the other parent.

It is during this temporary, transitional, and traumatic time that families are most in need of the services provided by Guardian House.

Please email your court order to [email protected] and include your name, phone number and the name of oldest child.  A staff member from our Intake Department will contact you to send intake paperwork within 2 business days.

A supervisor will be present at all times during the interaction between the parent and child(ren). The supervisor documents observed interactions and conversations during the visit; however, they do not record opinions or make recommendations. The supervisor is responsible to intervene and re-direct the non-custodial parent if policies are not being followed.

The role of the supervisor is also to help facilitate, as needed, interaction and connections between the parent and child. Additionally, the supervisor can assist with parenting questions, like how to discipline with time-outs and how to change a diaper. Parents are encouraged to take our free Parenting Education class and can put to practice what they are learning during visitation.

We understand that being supervised during visitation may feel uncomfortable at first, but parents and children typically adjust quickly to the situation.

We will need to review your court order to start the process for monitored exchanges or supervised visits.

Please email your court order to [email protected] and include your name and phone number.

A staff member from the Intake Department will contact you to schedule an intake appointment within 48 hours.

The Center provides psychiatric and wraparound services for psychosocial rehabilitation, community referrals for medical and substance abuse treatment, peer support and social assistance. Referrals for dual diagnosed clients are received through the Felony and Misdemeanor Drug Courts. This program serves adults ages 18-65.

By rehabilitating non-violent offenders with substance abuse and mental health issues, drug courts reduce costs of confinement while we help people rebuild stable, productive lives. Participants are subjected to rigorous drug testing, probation visits, and 90 to 180 days of residential treatment. To graduate from the program, participants must attain a high school diploma or GED and secure full-time work.

A federal mandate specifies that incarcerated individuals have access to religious services. Staff chaplains, volunteers from many faith communities, and the professional community provide worship services in 9 local detention and treatment facilities and pastoral care as needed.

The FRC provides the following services to family members of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals:

• Assistance with basic needs (food, clothing, transportation, ID cards, etc.
• Employment assistance through job readiness, and job referrals
• Regular support group meetings
• Substance recovery classes
• Chaplaincy services
• English as a Second Language (ESL)
• Mental health counseling
• Public utilities assistance (when funding is available)
• Parenting classes
• Anger management classes
• Art therapy for victims of domestic violence

• Identification
• Proof of incarceration

Chrysalis Ministries offers free mental health counseling and chaplaincy services for all clients. These services are available in order to help those attempting recovery, on-going recovery, along with former inmates attempting to merge back into society.

Counseling sessions vary client to client.

Call 210-299-4540 to schedule an appointment.

Free.

Reentry classes, character development, substance recovery, and anger management classes are provided in most facilities.

Ready to Work is unprecedented. No other city in the nation is supporting its residents like we are. With over $110 million in tuition assistance, hundreds of employers, training providers and colleges, community organizations and workforce agencies, we are in it together, for you.

Ready to Work makes continuing your education and finding a quality job easier for you. Your personal Ready to Work coach will help you with every step of the process, from understanding your specific situation, coaching you through career and education planning, enrolling and paying for your classes, increasing your confidence and soft skills, updating your resume, preparing you for interviews, connecting you to new job opportunities, and helping you thrive in your job.

Your journey begins with step one – Register online, call 3-1-1, or visit a Ready To Work Partner Agency.

Our full list of programs can be found here.

Our full list of employers can be found here.

Our Partner Agency, Chrysalis Ministries, provides hands-on case management services to help former inmates and their families as they overcome the consequences of incarceration. Eligibility Requirements can be found here.

Services include:

• Intake
• Assessment
• Case Management
• Referrals for Training

The Karnes Pro Bono Project was launched in 2014 by a group of attorneys committed to serving the legal needs of women and children in the newly opened Karnes family detention center (“Karnes”). The project has since come under the direction of RAICES, providing free legal services to people in ICE custody at Karnes. The families are typically forced to pass a credible or reasonable fear interview before being released to pursue asylum. Failure to meet these requirements for asylum can lead to deportation, which can mean a return to persecution and death.

RAICES supports detained families by preparing them for their screening interviews, representing them in hearings before an immigration judge if they fail their interview, and submitting requests for reconsideration to the Asylum Office if the immigration judge affirms the negative interview decision. When the need arises, RAICES has helped persons detained at Karnes with parole requests, bond motions, asylum applications, representation in final asylum hearings in immigration court, and appeals to the Board of Immigration Appeals. Our work also includes public advocacy campaigns and regular litigation and policy advocacy involvement.

For more information, contact us.

The RAICES Bond Program is a Texas-based bond fund that seeks to mitigate the harmful effects of and otherwise dismantle ICE detention.

The RAICES Bond Program started in 2014 to cover the release of mothers and children, then held in Family Detention Centers in Texas and Pennsylvania. In June 2018, the Program grew when a viral Facebook fundraiser inspired more than 500,000 individual donors who were furious at the government ripping families apart and the otherwise inhumane treatment of immigrants in the United States. Since then, we have responded to daily requests from people in detention, and our Bond Program covers people within the geographic scope of the state of Texas.

During workplace raids and the Zero Tolerance Family Separation of 2018, we have been on the ground. By building closer connections with participants, the Program gives people more resources and a greater degree of agency to navigate the complex immigration system and U.S. society more broadly. We believe that paying an individual’s bond is a short-term intervention to free someone from detention, while our long-term goal is ending the harmful practice of ICE detention.

We are proud members of the National Bail Fund Network, a bail and bond fund network seeking to end mass incarceration, including ICE detention.

Please fill out our form to apply for assistance through our bond fund

For questions, contact us.

The Center assists active duty, retired, and veteran service members with The Military Veteran Peer Network Project. In addition to integrated health services, we train and team you with a "Battle Buddy," a veteran who provides peer-to-peer role support.

The Center and MVPN also work with the Texas Veteran Jail Diversion and Trauma Recovery Project (TVJDTR), training law enforcement on effective crisis intervention strategies when encountering a veteran experiencing the effects of mental illness.

Assists individuals in felony and misdemeanor drug courts to improve their quality of life and further reduce recidivism by incorporating community-based case management services, psychiatric medication management, counseling, and skills training.

Judicial referrals only.

Jail diversion community mental health program that provides immediate assessment for mental health treatment for misdemeanor pre-trial cases to include: psychiatric medication management and comprehensive community support services.

Judicial referrals only.

CHCS Clinicians work within the Bexar County’s Justice Intake & Assessment Annex 24/7 to assess arrested individuals with mental health and/or substance use needs.

Eligible individuals are given the opportunity to participate in outpatient treatment via a Personal Recognizance (PR) bond release.

The City of San Antonio proudly partners with Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA) to offer legal aid services to households with low incomes who are experiencing eviction or other housing issues that threaten their housing status.

If you have received a notice to appear in Court or have a judgement against you, please contact the Right to Counsel (RTC) program immediately.

Apply for the City of San Antonio’s Right to Counsel Program:

• Free Legal Aid for those experiencing housing issues who income qualify.
• Attorney services are available on request for those in need, call 210-212-3703.
• Complete the Pre-Screen Intake Form here and email it to [email protected].

Kairos Outside is designed to support the families of men, women, and youth who are, or have been incarcerated in the country’s state and federal correctional facilities.

KO can help bolster the loved ones who are supporting those incarcerated persons. We believe that the families of the incarcerated are “doing time” right along with their loved ones. Kairos Outside is intended to let those families know that there is a community that cares about them and their needs.

We provide a safe place for women to share with each other, and with those who are empathetic to their situation, their struggles and concerns. The women on the outside, in many ways, have to be stronger than their relative(s) on the inside to survive in today’s world.

We hope Kairos Outside will help them find strength for their life journey and give them a chance to find and build relationships that may last a lifetime.

Must apply to attend.

Click here for more information.

No cost to guests. Donations accepted.

Personalized Career & Training Assistance for Justice-Involved Clients.

Goodwill Reentry Services understands individuals' unique challenges when reentering into society after incarceration, from reconnecting with family to finding employment.

Our staff provides one-on-one career coaching with a focus on:

• Identifying your career interests
• Developing your resume
• Practicing interview skills
• Completing online job applications
• Connecting to employers or training programs

Additionally, individuals can enroll in training programs, which include construction trades, warehousing, and logistics.

Requirements:

• At least18 years old
• Have a Valid ID
• Eligible to work in the United States
• Released from prison within the last two years
• Currently on Parole, Probation, or Supervised Release
• Can work full-time

If you are interested in finding out more, send an email to Reentry Services at [email protected].

Bexar County is committed to keeping residents safe and healthy. Use these resources to get the most of your Bexar County services.

The Department of Behavioral Health

The mission of The Department of Behavioral Health is to lead in planning, coordinating, advocating, and organizing community behavioral health stakeholders in activities to continuously improve the availability of services in Bexar County.

Center for Health Care

CHCS team members work with people from all around Bexar County, providing them with the counseling, resources, and support they need to make their life better.

University Health

University Health is a nationally recognized teaching hospital and network of outpatient healthcare centers, owned by the people of Bexar County.

FindHelp - Community Assistance Resources

Find community assistance resources through location or by need.

Wet Weather Safety

Find tools, resources for, and information about staying safe in Bexar County during wet weather.

Post-conviction relief is a procedure that allows the defendant in a criminal case to bring more evidence or raise additional issues in a case after a judgment has been made (post-trial). With valid grounds, post-conviction relief can help a convicted individual obtain a fair resolution in their case.

As an independent and autonomous part of the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office, the Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU) conducts objective reviews of final convictions to determine whether some manifest injustice has occurred that may be corrected by the procedures provided by post-conviction law.

Post-conviction relief comes in two forms: equitable relief and legal relief.

Equitable relief may be granted if:

• the conviction is not contested, but
• the client presents a compelling and/or sympathetic situation. (Why does this person deserve relief? What is keeping this person from taking their next steps? How has this person changed since the offense (treatment, counseling, etc)? Letters from the community in support of relief are key here.

Legal relief may be granted if:

• there has been a conviction, and
• there is a credible legal claim (e.g., My attorney didn’t communicate with me. New evidence or evidence that went untested at the time of my trial shows that I'm innocent, etc.).

When a case is accepted, the CIU prepares an internal proposal/memorandum and presents it to the District Attorney for approval.

Even if a case does not end in an exoneration or an expunction, it can still be beneficial to the applicant.

Also note:

• The CIU cannot review every case where there is a bare claim of innocence.
• There is no magic formula; each case is different.
• The CIU cannot give legal advice to a defendant or a defendant's family members.
• It would be best to have your claim presented by a lawyer who is experienced in post-conviction criminal work.
• The Innocence Project of Texas and similar organizations can be extremely helpful in presenting new claims.
• The more proof that a conviction was wrongful, the more likely we are to review the case. Documents that support that claim are also helpful.
• When CIU accepts a case for review, it will be open-minded and objective.

Click here to learn more and submit a case for review.

Individuals who have had any criminal justice involvement in the past and are looking to plan their personal comeback can find assistance at the Bexar County Reentry Center.

Our Reentry team can help you increase your level of employability, obtain higher educational levels, and acquire specialized job training. A variety of other services and resources are also available to you as well. Call us for an appointment!

Free

We offer court mandated Theft Prevention classes.

This class is scheduled on an individual basis. Call to schedule.

$50.00

Pastor Mooney enjoys telling the story of how he came to Christ and is willing to discuss the Word of God with anyone. Pastor Mooney was ordained as a minister in 1996, devotes his life to the Lord, and welcomes everyone to join the churches activities and services. He strongly believes that “It takes one to know one and show them the way.” Pastor Mooney is a living example that “God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you always have sufficiency in all things, and that you may have an abundance for every good thing” (2 COR 9:8 NKJV).

Our vision is to help the homeless, and those on drugs (crack cocaine, alcohol, downers, uppers, and heroin) and those in gangs. These individuals need a chance to have a job and money to help them start over again with a new life. We see them on our street corners all over the world. We need, as a people, to come together and help feed and clothe these individuals. We, as human beings are complete with body, mind, and spirit.

Our Violence Intervention Program is one of only three State-certified Batterers Intervention Programs in Bexar County, reaching male, female, and LGBTQ perpetrators of domestic violence with a comprehensive curriculum.

The VIP program consists of group therapy for men and women who perpetrate domestic and family violence. VIP curriculum allows perpetrators to take responsibility for their abusive behavior and teaches them the fundamentals of a healthy, non-violent relationship. It is designed to cover different aspects of violence and family abuse.

If you are ready to end your abusive behavior, join one of our groups. The program consists of 20 group sessions that meet every week for two hours. If you are interested in joining, please set an appointment.

All services are offered in English and Spanish.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call (210) 930-3669, ext. 2101 or 2102.

• Every participant needs to have a personal email and access to a personal computer or smartphone (example: iPhone, Android)
• Participation in the VIP program is open to the public as well as persons referred by the court, CPS, probation office, or parole office.

Initial evaluation $25. This is a two-hour appointment to complete paperwork and meet one-on-one with a professional counselor.

Group sessions are $25 per session. The total amount of sessions is 20.

New Life Ministry (NLM) is an active program that provides continued support for families. See the website for active NLM Support groups at the local parishes.

• St. Timothy Catholic Church

1515 Saltillo St., San Antonio, TX 78207

Click here for directions

• St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church

2829 Ackerman Rd., Kirby, TX 78219

Click here for directions

Free for all.

Choose to Change Mentoring is a program offered by the Choose to Change Foundation. We work directly with men coming out of prison and struggling with drugs and alcohol. Our self-supporting, Christian-based program meets weekly (one-hour meetings). We believe in the life-changing power of God through faith in Jesus Christ. 

We teach personal development, personal responsibility, and life skills through our meetings and events. Drug and alcohol education is crucial to all our programs, classes & events. Membership is entirely free, but we encourage donations from our members and anyone who believes in what we do. 

Our mentoring program is designed to give people a starting point for a better future. We do not claim to have all the answers, but be assured that we do have answers.

A.C.D.C = Accountability, Consistency, Discipline & Courage. These are the core values at the forefront of our program. People, especially men, will be challenged to become more than they ever thought possible. This will be accomplished through our structured weekly meetings, events, and a “60-day mentoring challenge” available to all members. We believe people need to be inspired, challenged, and equipped to believe in what may seem impossible.
Thank you for taking the time to learn about our program. Please take a few minutes to read through the rest of this page. If you would like a closer look at what we do and why we do it, please give us a call or come by one of our weekly meetings or events.

We look forward to seeing you soon.

Everyone will experience conflicts in their life. The word "conflict" will usually create negative thoughts. However, conflict can be positive as well as negative. Negative conflicts are disruptive, destructive and require a lot of energy. Positive conflicts can be a learning tool from which individuals can learn, grow and become closer in their relationship.

Our staff includes certified conflict resolution specialists to help resolve and mediate disputes that become undesirable conflicts.

Must be at least 12 years old.

• Six-hour Saturday accelerated class: $60.00.
• One-on-one in person class: $60.00 session. (number of sessions determined by client and facilitator).
• Two-hour group class: $25.00 per class. (typically requires four classes to complete program).

Prepare/Enrich is a wonderful program designed to help people in any kind of relationships. Over the last three decades, over 2.5 million couples have benefited from the Prepare/Enrich Program. The program is designed to explore strength and growth areas, strengthen communication skills and develop a more balanced relationship. The ultimate goal of the program is to help those in relationships to understand personality differences and maximize teamwork.

Must be at least 12 years old.

• Six-hour Saturday accelerated class: $60.00.
• One-on-one in person class: $60.00 session. (number of sessions determined by client and facilitator).
• Two-hour group class: $25.00 per class. (typically requires four classes to complete program).

We live in a complicated and fast-moving society. Stress can affect other emotions such as negative anger. Stress can be defined as a mismatch between an individual’s coping skills and the demands of their life.

The Life Skills for Living Program centers on altering a person’s usual negative response to stress to a new altered response. This altered response involves creating a process to change our techniques in the way we think, feel, and act during stressful periods that we all experience.

Must be at least 12 years old.

• Six-hour Saturday accelerated class: $60.00.
• One-on-one in-person class: $85.00 session. (number of sessions determined by client and facilitator).
• One-on-One Session: Four Week Course $100.00

We teach court-mandated classes, including DWI education and Drug Offender Education.

(We also teach Theft Prevention classes at another location. Please see that separate listing for details.)

Click here for more information.

$60.00