RED TENT WOMENS INITIATIVE INC
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Mission Statement
Providing women who are incarcerated or at risk of incarceration skills to heal and improve their lives through trauma informed programs.
About This Cause
"Red Tent (Women's Initiative) saved my life. If I had not had the classes while in the jail and being able to come to you in counseling, I would not have been able to make it." quote from a past participant. The Red Tent Women’s Initiative, Inc. (RTWI) mission is to provide women who are incarcerated and at-risk of being incarcerated with the skills to heal and improve their lives through trauma informed programs. The Red Tent Women's Initiative,Inc is a trauma informed program teaching participants the skills to: • Identify symptoms and address issues such as unresolved trauma, addiction, and socioeconomic disadvantage. • Re-frame negative past events using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. • Recognize healthy vs. unhealthy relationships and establish healthy boundaries. • Learn and apply evidence based HeartMath® tools and techniques to build personal resilience to navigate and manage stressors. RTWI provides in-jail programs for women in Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties that meet over 6-8 weeks during the final 2-3 months of their sentence. The women participate in science-based trauma informed classes to build strategies to understand their past life choices and develop a plan for the future. They are equipped with a "toolbox" of knowledge, resources, and techniques that support an improved healthy life. Once released, participants maintain connection with RTWI to continue their reintegration with additional opportunities for behavioral health counseling, employment assistance, and family connection. When a woman’s life is improved, it is not just her life that changes but the lives of her children, family as well as increased community safety. She becomes a positive contributor to society. “As one teenager told the founder, I got my mom back after she attended Red Tent.” The number of women incarcerated has increased 700% since 1990 and now outpaces men. No less than one-third of the inmates behind bars in the Pinellas County Jail are female (approximately 300-400 women are incarcerated at any time) and 60 - 80% of them are mothers of young children. Nearly all women who are incarcerated have experienced sexual violence or trauma and many have behavioral health disorders. In addition, the recidivism rate (return to jail) is approximately 50%. Women who are incarcerated lose their jobs, are separated from their children, and often become outcasts of society. Once released, many are unable to reunify with their families or get a job and end up homeless. Their children are at risk of placement in the child welfare system. Red Tent Women’s Initiative (RTWI) aims to stop this cycle of incarceration and family disruption. Data from the Florida Department of Corrections estimates that each year of incarceration costs our community $30,000 per woman. RTWI’s in jail and diversion program, Project Redirect help women avoid initial and repeat incarceration. For every 50 women that don’t return to jail, taxpayers save over a million dollars. Data for Pinellas County related to women incarcerated or at-risk of incarceration is limited. However, research into local incarceration reveals that: • Pinellas County ranks 5th statewide in the number of total jail admissions with a capacity of 378 women daily. • Predictors of arrest and re-arrest are poverty, lack of housing, lack of gender-responsive and trauma informed interventions, and family reunification. • Typical re-incarceration rates for women average about 50% while women participating in RTWI’s program have an approximately 24% recidivism rate. • Data from the Office of Program Policy and Government Accountability (OPPAGA) study of the Florida Department of Corrections (2021) calculated that the average cost to house an inmate is $76.83 per day – RTWI saves Pinellas County taxpayers $28,000 for every woman who does not enter or return to jail. • 60% of incarcerated women have children under the age of 18. • RTWI is the only program serving women while they are in jail in Pinellas County. Since beginning nearly 11 years ago, RTWI has served over 1,000 women in the Pinellas County Jail. • RTWI is licensed by HeartMath®, Inc. to use its evidence-based curriculum. • RTWI addresses the critical factors needed to build new lives for women. RTWI’s impact improves lives, saves society money, and makes our communities safer. RTWI’s in-jail program lays a foundation for women to build new futures without repeated incarceration. Project Redirect, provides an alternative to jail by successful completion, will keep families together and reduce the number of children involved in the foster care system. RTWI’s in-jail program has been a long-standing collaboration with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Department. Project Redirect is a collaboration between RTWI and Pinellas County officials including the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, Public Defender’s Office – Mitigation, Advocacy, and Treatment, State Attorney, and judges. Programmatically Project Redirect collaborates with Dress for Success of Tampa Bay for assistance with employment training for our participants as well as clothing for interviews and on-the job. We have also established a collaboration with the James B. Sanderlin Neighborhood Family Center for use of their space for our sessions as well as access to other services available at the site. Recently, we have linked services with CASA’s new Family Justice Center and are in discussions with staff there to provide outreach services at their new facility as well as inform Project Redirect participants of their services for domestic violence survivors. Career Source has connected with Project Redirect as well for job placement and training services. RTWI has partnered with the Catholic Diocese over the past 8 years to support follow up mental health counseling services to our clients who have completed the RTWI in-jail program. Diocese staff has served 35+ women with follow up counseling post release. Project Redirect, RTWI’s newest program, is a diversion program offered to women (generally first-time nonviolent offenders) by the judge and/or Public Defender’s Office as an alternative to incarceration. Project Redirect uses best practice trauma-informed weekly sessions over 8 weeks to assist women in recognizing their own decision-making choices and helps participants build practices for a successful future. Participants are connected to local resources including housing and employment. Project Redirect in Pinellas is held at the James B. Sanderlin Family Center. In support of the concepts learned, Project Redirect participants receive continued support during the last 4 weeks of the Program via Group mentoring to practice the learned skills. The RTWI is also implementing the Weekly Connection which is designed to help our in Jail and Project Redirect graduates in stressful or challenging times to reinforce healing and make choices to remain outside the world of incarceration. It features relevant topics to educate in a variety of mental/physical health, financial wellness, workforce development topics and strategies. " I was living before and now with Red Tent's help, I am finally alive." Comment from recent class participant.