Carbon County officials want to educate agencies on what is being done to help those trying to re-enter society following incarceration.

OnApril 15, the seventh annual Human Services Priority Brunch, formerly known as the Legislative Brunch, will provide an update from the county Re-entry Strategic Planning Coalition, which was started last year in the hopes of building a plan to help those getting out of prison find their way back into society through various resources and services.The event is sponsored by the Carbon County Interagency and Family Collaborative Board, in connection with the Criminal Justice Advisory Board.The coalition brings various agencies and law enforcement offices, as well as the court system to the table and aims to reduce repeat offenses of various crimes that require incarceration. Through their planning meetings, the group has focused on the plan, the collaboration and the communication for a successful program.The event, which is open to all county agencies and the public, will be held at the Whispering Pines, Penn Forest Volunteer Fire Company 1, 1387 Route 903, Jim Thorpe. Doors open at 8:30 a.m. Brunch begins at 9, and the discussion will start at 9:30.The brunch committee strongly encourages agencies and the public to attend to educate themselves and help with finding solutions. The cost for the brunch is $5 per person, which will benefit an annual grant given by the IFCB at the brunch to one agency that works to benefit the community.To register for the brunch, make checks payable to Interagency Council of Carbon County and send payment and the names of those attending to Carbon County Interagency and Family Collaborative Board c/o Mindy Graver, Penn State Extension Office, 529 Lentz Trail, Jim Thorpe, PA 18229.For more information, contact Graver at 570-325-2788, ext. 2, or email

mjg26@psu.edu.The annual brunch has covered various topics, from problems the court systems face to children and families.