Category: Blog
Understanding Child Support—Where to Start?
Parents with child support obligations are often unaware that child support accrues while incarcerated, leaving them with significant debt upon release. In fact, the average debt for parents formerly incarcerated is $20,000 to $36,000.1 This debt can make your community reintegration more challenging. So, how can you fulfill your financial obligations to your family, ensure your [...]
Voting Laws Have Changed— Are You Eligible?
Over the last few decades, reform efforts have worked to reinstate voting rights for justice-involved individuals. From 2016 to 2020, 13 states have expanded voting rights for individuals with felony convictions, but only a quarter made it back to the polls1. These rights vary by state, and with so many different variables, it’s may be [...]
Women in Reentry: How to Increase Your Success
Incarcerated females experience the Criminal Justice System differently from their male counterparts. Considered the minority, females make up between 10-15% of the justice-involved population. In a setting designed to serve the majority, it’s no surprise that women are often underserved. Women are at risk for getting little to no proper health care for their unique [...]
National Fitness Day: Tips to Motivate You
Fitness Day, also known as National Workout Day, is celebrated on the first Saturday of May, and is a day dedicated to physical and mental health. We all know that exercise is important, but the demands of everyday life can interfere with our fitness goals. Work, family, school, and other reentry commitments may leave little [...]
How to Maintain Your Sobriety During Stressful Times
Everyone deals with stress at one time or another, and for individuals in recovery, stress and triggers can challenge one’s sobriety. Substance use is often a quick way to deal with stress, and while drugs and alcohol provide temporary pain relief, they can also inflict much harsher, long-term consequences. You may be asking, “how else [...]
April is Stress Awareness Month: Tips to Help You Cope
We live in such a fast-paced society, which can cause many people to feel anxious or overwhelmed. Problems that stem from family, work, and finances are the most common stressors people face. Learning how to manage anxiety, cope with stress, and find ways to deal with these situations can go a long way in leading [...]
Navigating Family Dynamics in Recovery
“Remember, your past does not define you. Don’t forget that there are people who believe in you and are cheering you on. You’ve come this far, and your perseverance will carry you through.”- Karen G. As a reentry program director in California, Karen has helped many individuals navigate reentry and family reunification. This may be [...]
Mastering the Art of Self-Care
Reentering the community after any period of incarceration can be overwhelming, regardless of the length of imprisonment. Nayely G. works as a reentry program manager and understands firsthand how important self-care is to your well-being. Today’s society is undoubtedly fast-paced, and we have been trained to take care of the needs of others before we [...]
Hunger in America, and Where to Find Help
Every day, millions of Americans face hunger and struggle to put food on the table for their families. Many believe those struggling are in the situation due to poverty, but that’s simply not the case. Unemployment, affordable housing, health problems, and geographical location are all factors that contribute to hunger. According to the U.S Department [...]
The Opioid Epidemic & Medication-Assisted Treatment
In 2017, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) declared a public health emergency, commonly referred to as the “Opioid Epidemic". In response to the increasing rates of opioid-related deaths and Opioid-use Disorder (OUD), the government launched several initiatives to combat the crisis. Despite these reform efforts, over two million Americans suffer from OUD, [...]