Each year, in the U.S. 600,000 people are released from prison, but within three years 68% will likely be reconvicted.

HopeWorks believes all people deserve two things – hope and a job. Being confined in Shelby County Division of Corrections (SCDC) today does not mean that a stable, meaningful career is impossible for tomorrow. 

In 2016, SCDC invited HopeWorks to provide our flagship program, Personal and Career Development, behind bars within the local prison system. 

This partnership has resulted in hundreds of inmates that have been released and have found a new way of life. Since 2016, we have introduced additional programming that has ultimately dropped the recidivism rate significantly.

Check out our programs on the inside of Corrections in Shelby County:

PERSONAL & CAREER DEVELOPMENT

HopeWorks’ Personal and Career Development (PCD) course is a 13‐week, program that will unlock skills and knowledge needed to grow as a professional. Through 220 hours of classroom instruction, counseling and mentorship, our PCD graduates gain the skills needed to obtain and keep a meaningful career upon their release. This stepping stone gives students the opportunity to participate in the Hope 2 Hire program.

Our PCD students, in addition to time with trained counselors, will also have access to a faith encourager. This volunteer serves as a source of professional and spiritual guidance. Oftentimes, these relationships continue long after students graduate from the PCD class.

Do you have a loved one who is currently in prison that could benefit from this program?  Call 901-272-3700 for more information.

ADULT BASIC EDUCATION

Individuals who are incarcerated in a Shelby County Correctional facility have the opportunity to gain their HiSET – High School Equivalency Diploma – through HopeWorks before they are released.

Isn’t that a GED?
Think of it like Coke or Pepsi. They are both soft drinks, and people have opinions about which one tastes the best. GED and HiSET are brands of tests. The state of Tennessee prefers the HiSET brand of testing. What really matters is earning a high school equivalency diploma that helps build a better future.

HopeWorks AE graduates leave HopeWorks as better thinkers, better readers, stronger at math and ready to take on their next life goal. 

Having a High School diploma gives access to more career opportunities than without one. On the average, a person with their HiSET has much more earning potential, an estimated $6,000 per year more!

Do you have a loved one who is currently in prison that could benefit from this program?  Call 901-272-3700 for more information.

HOPE2HIRE

Hope 2 Hire is a technical job-skills program within Shelby County Division of Corrections. After students within SCDC complete HopeWorks’ Personal and Career Development Program, they are eligible to apply for a place in the Hope2Hire program. 

Hope2Hire equips men and women in SCDC with the technical skills needed to obtain work that pays a living wage. Having a stable job that pays a living wage is one of the key factors that prevents recidivism – or a person returning to prison after release. 

Simultaneously, these workers fill job gaps that exist in Memphis. The program provides life-changing work to people in need of a second chance while filling in-demand positions across the Mid-South. 

For a more extensive look at the Hope2Hire program and its partners, click the link: 

HOPE2HIRE

Do you have a loved one who is currently in prison that could benefit from this program?  Call 901-272-3700 for more information.

When a justice-involved individual is released, they face numerous barriers.

If you or someone you love has justice involvement in your/their past, you know just how difficult it is to establish oneself well in a community. Many of these barriers trigger additional obstacles compounding the re-entry struggle.

At HopeWorks, we believe everyone deserves another chance, because we know we have all been recipients of God’s grace and his many “second chances”. That’s why we have programming designed to walk alongside you to knock down the barriers.

CASE MANAGEMENT

HopeWorks’ Case Management team is ready to walk with you from the moment you are released until you no longer need our help. We will sit with you and assess your needs and help you with resources to reinstate your vital documents, meet court requirements, connect you with physical and mental health services and a host of other obstacles.

Do you need help overcoming barriers due to justice involvement?  Call 901-272-3700 for more information.

WORKFORCE SUPPORT

We know one of the greatest post-release challenges is employment. One of the milestones in reentry success is the ability to find a job. It means more than just an income, it is honorable and builds self-respect, as well as the respect of your family and community. That’s why we have a team of workforce specialists that have experience connecting our clients with background-friendly employers. They will help you discover your skills and develop them into marketable employment traits.

Do you need help overcoming employment barriers due to justice involvement?  Call 901-272-3700 for more information.

“Housing is a key predictor of successful community reentry.”

Research like this (Burrowes, 2019) shows that housing is a crucial element in the reentry process. Inidividuals with no housing after relase are ten times more likely to become homeless.

And when there is no other option, but to return to the environment where you were arrested, the likelyhood of reoffense and reconviction are higher.

REENTRY HOUSING

HopeWorks has expanded our services with the addition of Forgiveness House, a transitional housing program for previously incarcerated individuals. By providing affordable housing, life skills training, job placement assistance, mental health and recovery assistance services, we’re able to create second chances for men who are looking for a fresh start and wanting to become contributing members to society.

Do you have a loved one who will be released soon and needs a place to get back on their feet?  Call 901-272-3700 for more information.