Goodwill West Texas is expanding opportunities for employment services and programs to individuals affected by the justice system with the Reentry Point program.
Reentry Point’s mission is to equip individuals with the proper knowledge and guidance to help them achieve after incarceration. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, approximately 60% of formerly incarcerated people struggle with unemployment.
“Investing time, education and resources into our justice-impacted neighbors is a proven strategy in breaking the cycle of recidivism,” Goodwill West Texas CEO Rick Waldraff said. “This program not only helps individuals reacclimate into our community, but it creates an opportunity to make our community safer and stronger.”
Andre Gwinn Sr., the reentry program specialist, said since its official launch in October 2023, the program has served 35 people. A long-term goal for the program aims to train 100 individuals within the Big Country in its first six months. If successful, Goodwill plans to expand to serve justice-impacted individuals across the organization’s 35-county territory.
Program funding is through the sales of donated items at Goodwill West Texas retail stores and is free to individuals to enroll.
The program, led by Gwinn a former employment and resource specialist in the Abilene Career Center, is intended for individuals who have been justice-impacted in their past, have been recently released from incarceration, or are currently incarcerated and are 3-6 months away from being released.
“West Texas is home to several Texas Department of Criminal Justice Systems, and we often see individuals who have been recently released from incarceration, or who have a history of being justice-impacted, come through our Career Centers,” Gwinn said. “Our mission is to provide opportunities for people with barriers to employment, and the Reentry Point program allows us to better serve individuals with this particular barrier with education and training specifically designed for their experiences.”
Eligible individuals must fall under these criteria to qualify for one of the two provided tracks.
Track 1 is intended for recently released and justice-involved individuals. This track includes a 5-day course that teaches job and life skills trainings and shares resources for paying and advancing education. This program includes in-person classes at Goodwill’s Career Center in Abilene, 2200 N 1st Street, or on-site with transitional living facilities in the area.
Track 2 is designed for individuals living in correctional facilities. Participants will be taught Texas Department of Criminal Justice-approved curriculum intended to equip soon-to-be released individuals with skills like job skills training and financial planning to succeed post-release.
Both track curriculums utilize classroom-style instruction and are proven tools in similar Goodwill Reentry programs across the state of Texas, Gwinn stated.
Interested individuals will hear back from the mission services team in one to three business days after the completion of the general interest form on the website. There is no limit to the number of applicants for the program.
For more information on the Reentry Point program or to fill out the interest form, visit goodwillwtx.org/reentry-point.
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