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Family Reentry Workshops
Coming home affects the whole family. Preparation should include them too.
On The Way Home's Family Reentry Workshops bring families, professionals, community partners, and people with lived experience together to prepare for the realities of reentry and build stronger plans for the journey home.
REENTRY DOESN'T HAPPEN TO ONE PERSON
Release from incarceration is often treated as a single moment—the day someone walks out the door. For families, reentry begins long before that day and continues long after it.
Families may suddenly find themselves navigating housing, employment, transportation, supervision requirements, healthcare, recovery, relationships, finances, and expectations about what life together will look like.
On The Way Home's Family Reentry Workshops help families prepare before the challenges arrive.
A successful return home takes more than a release plan. It takes an informed and prepared support system.
WHAT HAPPENS AT A FAMILY REENTRY WORKSHOP?
Practical information, honest conversations, and resources designed to help families prepare for the realities of reentry.
Preparing for Release
What families can expect before release and how to begin preparing for the transition home.
The First 72 Hours
Immediate priorities, basic needs, expectations, and common challenges during the first days home.
Family & Relationships
Communication, expectations, boundaries, changing family roles, and adjusting to life together after incarceration.
Parole & Supervision
Understanding supervision requirements, expectations, and the realities of returning home on parole.
Mental Health & Recovery
Trauma-informed information, behavioral health, recovery support, overdose prevention, and available resources.
Community Resources
Connections to organizations, professionals, and resources that can provide support throughout reentry.
Workshop topics, speakers, and activities may vary by location based on community needs and available partners.
REAL INFORMATION. REAL PEOPLE. REAL CONVERSATIONS.
Family reentry is complicated. Our workshops bring different perspectives into the same room so families can ask questions, hear honest experiences, and leave better prepared.
Professional Expertise
Community professionals help families better understand the systems, services, and requirements they may encounter throughout reentry.
Lived
Experience
People with firsthand experience of incarceration, reentry, recovery, or supporting a loved one share perspectives that cannot be learned from a handbook.
Family Centered
Preparation
Families have opportunities to ask questions, consider realistic expectations, and prepare together for the changes that can come with returning home.
We don't just talk about the person coming home. We talk about what reentry means for the entire family.
COME READY TO LEARN. LEAVE BETTER PREPARED.
Our goal is for families to leave with practical information, useful tools, and stronger connections for the road ahead.
✓ Family Reentry Workbook
Practical information and activities families can continue using at home.
✓ Educational Guides & Resources
Take-home information covering important reentry topics.
✓ Reentry Planning Materials
Tools to help families think through needs, priorities, and next steps.
✓ Community Resource Information
Connections to organizations and services that may be available after the workshop.
✓ Access to Community Partners
Opportunities to learn directly from professionals and organizations serving the community.
✓ Lived-Experience Perspectives
Honest insight from people who understand incarceration and reentry firsthand.
✓ Overdose Prevention Education
Narcan education or training may be available depending on the workshop and participating partners.
✓ Lunch & Refreshments
Meals or refreshments are provided when available.
FAMILY REENTRY WORKSHOPS ARE FREE FOR PARTICIPATING FAMILIES.
Materials, speakers, activities, meals, and available resources may vary by workshop location.
FAMILY REENTRY ACROSS ALABAMA
OTWH is working to bring family-centered reentry education, preparation, and community connections to families across Alabama.
BIRMINGHAM
May 30, 2026
OTWH's inaugural Family Reentry Workshop brought families together with professionals, community partners, and people with lived experience for a full day of reentry education and preparation.
Topics included:
Reentry planning • First 72 hours • Supervision • Healthcare • Recovery • Family preparation
Community voices included representatives from:
U.S. Probation, Enroll Alabama, Birmingham AIDS Outreach, New Season, and lived-experience speakers.
DOTHAN
August 15, 2026
OTWH brought the Family Reentry Workshop to Dothan with support from local and statewide partners, expanding our effort to make family reentry education and resources available in communities across Alabama.
Workshop focus included:
Reentry planning • First 72 hours • Supervision • Healthcare • Recovery • Family preparation
Workshop partners and contributors included:
JF Ingram State Technical College • Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles • Lived Experience • Overdose Prevention Education
AND WE'RE NOT DONE.
Every Alabama community has different reentry needs. OTWH is using community interest, partnerships, and family feedback to help determine where Family Reentry Workshops should go next.
BRING A FAMILY REENTRY WORKSHOP TO YOUR COMMUNITY
You know your community. We know reentry. Let's work together to bring practical reentry education and family preparation closer to the people who need it.
Who Can Partner With Us?
✓ Nonprofit & community organizations
✓ Reentry & recovery organizations
✓ Colleges & educational institutions
✓ Government & justice-system partners
✓ Community centers
✓ Churches & faith communities
✓ Other organizations serving impacted families
WHAT OTWH BRINGS?
✓ Workshop planning and coordination
✓ Reentry-focused educational content
✓ Family preparation material
✓ Lived-experience perspectives
✓ Connections with community partners and professionals
✓ Participant materials and resources, as available
Don't see your organization listed? That's okay. If your community could benefit from family reentry education, we'd still like to hear from you.
Workshop format, length, topics, speakers, and available materials can be adapted based on community needs, partnerships, capacity, and available funding.
INTERESTED IN BRINGING A WORKSHOP TO YOUR AREA?
Tell us about your organization, community, and the families you hope to serve.
HELP US KEEP FAMILY REENTRY WORKSHOPS FREE
Families navigating incarceration and reentry already face enough barriers. Cost shouldn't be another one.
OTWH provides Family Reentry Workshops at no cost to participating families. Donations, sponsorships, and in-kind support help us provide educational materials, meals, workshop supplies, travel, community resources, and other costs associated with bringing these workshops into communities across Alabama.
SPONSOR A WORKSHOP
Help cover the costs of bringing a Family Reentry Workshop to an Alabama community.
DONATE SUPPLIES
Support workshops through needed materials, participant items, food, beverages, printing, or other in-kind contributions.
SUPPORT THE PROGRAM
Make a donation of any size to help OTWH continue providing family reentry education and support.