Fostering A "New Beginning" Using Community and Legal Partnership to Support Reentry Efforts

SESSION INFO

Sunday, June 30, 2024
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Session Type: Workshop

The foundation of Goodwill New Beginnings is a job and life skills program where we meet our clients where they are. The program is based on six main components: Stable Housing, Support Group Stabilization, Full-Time Employment, Financial Literacy, Mental/Physical health, and a variety of assessments that identify their biggest needs. After a careful evaluation, the participant is placed into one of our tiered models where they receive trauma-informed care, behavior modification, and soft skills. During their time with Goodwill, the participants gain technical skills and or additional education such as certifications and or secondary education. Goodwill’s New Beginnings Program has maintained a recidivism rate under 10% for the past 13 years. New Beginnings works in conjunction with Parole and Probation to ensure a successful reentry.

SESSION PRESENTERS

Trelles Evans, Dr.
Senior Director, Coaching and Reentry, Goodwill of Central and Southern Indiana


Trelles has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology an MBA with a concentration in Human Resources and a Ph.D. in Human and Social Services with a focus on employment and recidivism. She has worked in the social service field for 20-plus years. Trelles specializes in working with those who have barriers to employment such as disabilities and criminal backgrounds. Trelles has worked with Disability Services providing Supported Employment and delivering services through retail and janitorial training programs. Trelles then moved on to case management which advocated for those who have disabilities as a barrier to employment. Trelles created an Employee Development and Training program to aid in removing barriers to employment through intensive wrap-around services. In 2011, Trelles created and implemented the reentry program, New Beginnings at Goodwill. As the Senior Director for Coaching and Re-entry Services, Trelles currently oversees Coaching and Reentry services for Goodwill of Central and Southern Indiana. Working at Goodwill Trelles is can see the difference that a little support can make in a person’s life. This organization stands behind its mission and it is a cohesive group to work with. Trelles truly believes it does take a village to change a life


David Hollomon
Director, Coaching and Reentry, Goodwill of Central and Southern Indiana

Kent Kramer
President and Chief Executive Officer, Goodwill of Central and Southern Indiana


Kent A. Kramer joined Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana in 2002 as Vice President of Retail Operations, later serving as Chief Operating Officer. In 2015, he was named President and Chief Executive Officer – just the fourth leader in the organization’s nearly 90 years. Kent leads a thriving Goodwill of nearly 4,500 employees (two-thirds of whom have a significant employment barrier) that also educates more than 4,500 students and serves more than 2,000 low-income families. With nearly $225 million in annual revenue, Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana is one of the largest of the Goodwills in North America. Kramer, through his role with Goodwill, appreciates the opportunity to help improve lives and communities. Goodwill utilizes its resources to help provide solutions to serious social problems, including poverty, by creating opportunities for people to become productive, economically self-sufficient citizens. Each individual’s success story drives Kramer and his team to work even harder to provide employment and education opportunities that will ultimately lead to prosperous outcomes.