Since 2005, individuals representing employers, educators, faith-based & tribal organizations, social service providers, and government agencies began meeting to better understand how to overcome the obstacles ex-offenders face after being convicted of a felony crime and became known as the “Second Chance Network”.
Conducting monthly networking meetings, participants share strategies and tactics found to improve the success rate of ex-offender job placement and retention. It became quickly apparent that job placement and retention success was not possible without understanding and addressing the hurdles ex-offenders face in obtaining affordable-safe housing, reliable transportation, health care, clothing and other core personal needs.
In 2009, the participants of the Second Chance Network decided to formalize and become a professional membership organization in order to promote ethical standards in the industry, as well as, serve the dedicated individuals that work as professionals in reentry. The organization was incorporated as a not-for-profit entity and changed the name to the “Association of Reentry Professionals” to better reflect the goals of the organization.
Affiliate members
The federal government imposes lifetime bans on eligibility for public housing on two groups: those with production of methamphetamine conviction and those registered for their lifetime on the state’s sex offender registry.
