Our ChanceTN Connects with Women Preparing for Reentry
Ain Ealey, TAEM Wellness Navigation + Cross Team Project Manager, Karyn J. Johnson, and Juanita Turner, County Resource Navigator at Martha O’Bryan Center pose at rehabilitation center
Nashville, Tenn.- Earlier this fall, Our ChanceTN and the Martha O’Bryan Center (MOBC) had the opportunity to participate in the Re-Entry Resource Fair at the Debra K. Johnson Rehabilitation Center, Tennessee’s primary correctional facility for women. The fair, held once or sometimes twice a year, brings together community organizations to provide resources, encouragement, and practical tools for women preparing to reintegrate into their communities.
For many attending this event, release was just days, or even hours away. Others were navigating longer timelines, facing months before returning home. Our team, Ain Ealey, TAEM Wellness Navigation + Cross Team Project Manager and Juanita Turner, County Resource Navigator at MOBC connected with three groups of women throughout the day, each with unique needs, stories, and questions about what comes next.
“It was a deeply gratifying and rewarding experience to connect with a population so often forgotten, but so deserving of a second chance,” says Ain. “Sharing resources from Our ChanceTN and MOBC felt meaningful in a way that’s difficult to put into words and was profoundly humbling.”
Sharing Resources, Rebuilding Connections
Ain and Juanita shared information about the programs available to support women as they rebuild their lives: workforce pathways, benefits navigation, expungement help, behavioral health resources, and access to community events designed to welcome returning citizens back into neighborhood life.
The goal was to bolster MOBC’s role as a community hub and make sure every woman knew where to find resources to make the transition back into civilian life easier, from simple things like inviting them to Trunk or Treat, a safe and joyful way to reconnect with children, to walking them through lists for housing, healthcare, and employment,
Caregivers involved with OurChanceTN often have personal or family ties to incarceration. Many have experienced the system firsthand or supported a partner through it. Talking with the women at Debra K. Johnson reinforced how rebuilding stability isn’t just financial, it’s emotional, relational, and deeply tied to identity.
“Having worked in corrections for three years as an instructor teaching Cognitive Behavior Intervention Programs, I have found that working with both males and females is exhausting yet rewarding,” says Juanita. “Rage, anger, and hostility are symptoms of deeper issues, and therefore one-on-one interaction and re-emphasizing positive and healthy living helps decrease recidivism. To truly effect change in an individual’s life, one must demonstrate genuine care for the individual. You are more than you think you are, so start thinking about who you are.”
Understanding the Benefits Cliff
Our team also introduced several women to the benefits cliff, the hidden barrier that can cause someone to lose essential supports when they begin earning more income. For many, this concept was eye-opening, clarifying why progress sometimes feels like punishment. These conversations opened the door to discussing how programs like OurChanceTN exist to help families move toward long-term economic stability without fear.
Community Partners Coming Together
Alongside OurChanceTN and MOBC, organizations such as Metro Public Health, Behavioral Health and Wellness, and External Wealth and Resource Providers attended the fair to ensure women had access to a holistic support network. The shared goal: to reduce recidivism, improve reentry outcomes, and create a smoother, more human-centered transition back into community life.
Our ChanceTN is a part of a study funded by the Tennessee Department of Human Services which is being conducted to determine how these pilot programs help people improve their economic well-being. During the study, all new eligible applicants will be randomly selected into one of two/three groups that receive a different mix of program services.
The Tennessee Opportunity Pilot Initiative (TOPI) is brought forth by the Tennessee Department of Human Services and TANF Opportunity Act. This initiative will help individuals, families, and the state of Tennessee by creating a new vision for the Tennessee social safety net and is dedicated to helping low-income families grow beyond their vulnerabilities. TOPI empowers all Tennesseans by partnering with local organizations to reach deep into their communities and work shoulder to shoulder with individuals and families, growing their capacity to take on life’s challenges and reduce their dependence on the social safety net.