History of In2Action
Humble Beginnings
The Founder and Executive Director of in2Action Dan Hanneken was released from prison for the 3rd time in August of 2003. Hanneken, a prior-persistent violent offender fully expected to quickly return to prison believing he had no chance to succeed upon his release. During the initial months after his release, Hanneken told himself if he was somehow able to stay out, he would someday create a program that would provide the supports and resources people need when they are released from prison so they can expect to be successful.
Over the next ten years, Hanneken recommitted his life to Christ, became an active member of The Crossing Church, and met Stephanie who he married in 2007. Dan earned his master’s degree in social work from the University of Missouri-Columbia and became a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). He worked for Phoenix Programs, a substance use treatment program before accepting a position at the Missouri Department of Corrections in the Director’s Office as the Reentry Coordinator for the State of Missouri.
It Started with One
In 2011 Hanneken left the Department of Corrections to start in2Action. With the support of The Crossing Church and a single donor, in2Action received its 501(c)3 in October of 2011 and it began accepting residents on February 1st of 2012. Within weeks the house was full, and within a month people were being turned away due to limited bed space.
In2Action began by renting a large house which could accommodate seven adult men. In the beginning Dan would resist the term “program”. We were not really a program but simply a safe and drug free place for people to go when they were released from prison so they could become successful. It did not take long however for Dan to realize it was going to take more than a roof over someone’s head to truly give the people at in2Action a fighting chance. What would in2Action need to look like to truly be an effective program in which the people served could successfully and permanently transition into law abiding and productive members of our community.
And Now
Fast forward to 2022, God has provided for in2Action exceedingly and abundantly above all Dan could ask or think. The main campus at in2Action is close to four acres in north Columbia providing a total of 55 beds. In2Action has Phase-1 beds for people who get released from prison today, while also providing 1-bedroom apartments for program graduates who may have been released three years ago – and everything in-between.
In2Action is for sure a “program” today and is a Certified Clinical Outpatient Treatment Program with the Missouri Department of Mental Health as well as accredited by the National Association of Recovery Residences (NARR). Utilizing a social model of recovery rooted in Biblical principles, in2Action now achieves some of the best (if not the best) outcomes in the state of Missouri with a 1-year recidivism rate of just over 6% compared to the Boone County average of over 26%.
Reducing Recidivism
Recovery means so much more than staying out of prison and reducing recidivism is only a small part of what we do at in2Action. Utilizing the Recovery Capital Index (RCI), in2Action can assess and measure overall wellness, life satisfaction, and human flourishing in key life domains including social capital, personal capital, and cultural capital. People at in2Action are provided the opportunity to not only survive, but to have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10). Incorporating Biblical principles and a relationship with Jesus into our evidence-based interventions has proven to be model that works.
While we invest a lot in empowering our residents to flourish in every area of their lives, our ultimate goal goes way beyond what happens in this world. Residents at in2Action are provided the opportunity to engage in a personal and meaningful relationship with Jesus Christ. What we have found is when the spiritual condition is addressed, everything else becomes much easier.
While many other programs serve those who have been to prison, nothing in Central Missouri was created and built to specifically address the risks and needs of this population. Contrary to popular belief, even the highest risk offenders can be transformed when provided the proper resources and support. We see it at in2Action every day!
Please note – our story is still being written, and it’s changing quickly so please check back often to read updates as they occur or subscribe to our newsletter.
What Residents Say
Our residents regularly tell us things like “I have never been to a program like this.”, “I never thought I could have this much fun without drugs.”, and “I would be dead right now if it was not for this program.”