Effective as of July 1, 2024, The Red Tent Women’s Initiative Inc. (RTWI) has joined forces with WestCare GulfCoast-Florida to expand services and secure their mission’s future.
Since its establishment in 2012, RTWI has provided trauma-informed care to women in Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties who are incarcerated or are at risk of incarceration. Through their programs, participants are taught positive coping skills, mindfulness techniques, and life skills to empower them to face their past trauma and avoid incarceration or reenter society successfully. The outcomes of the program include but are not limited to enhanced personal communication skills, resiliency when encountering difficult situations, and successfully securing gainful employment.
Over the past twelve years, The Red Tent Women’s Initiative (RTWI) has partnered with criminal justice and community organizations, especially in Pinellas County, and despite the challenges posed by COVID-19, they have expanded into Hillsborough County and launched a Diversion Program. However, the growing demand for their services has exceeded their current infrastructure. As part of WestCare Gulf Coast-Florida, a branch of the global WestCare network, they will continue serving incarcerated women and those at risk. This partnership ensures the preservation of their legacy and provides opportunities for growth and development as WestCare GulfCoast-Florida provides administrative support.
Through this transition, WestCare GulfCoast-Florida aims to uphold the RTWI’s mission of preventing recidivism rates amongst former female offenders. It is our intent to bolster their current efforts with increased administrative support to better serve and uplift the individuals that they support and in turn, their families and loved ones. Without the steadfast efforts, selflessness, and compassion of their leadership, staff, and board members who will all be joining the WestCare family as part of this move, RTWI would not have been able to become the beacon of hope for women involved in the criminal justice system as it is today.
“I am excited and encouraged by this opportunity. Red Tent will finally be able to expand and reach out to countless women and families in need while retaining our unique mission and identity,” said RTWI’s founder, Barbara Rhode in an official announcement to community partners from the RTWI. “This opportunity is a huge step forward for all of us.”
“WestCare has the infrastructure to not only sustain The Red Tent Women’s Initiative program in Pinellas and Hillsborough County Jails, but also support its growth and the demand to expand to other counties with its in-jail and diversion programs,” explained Board Chair, Joanne Wolf, in the program’s aforementioned announcement. “This partnership opens up exciting possibilities for our program’s future.”
“We are excited to begin this new chapter and Uplift the Human Spirit of those that The Red Tent Women’s Initiative serves. Through trauma-informed services within and outside of correctional institutions, we know these efforts go a long way in helping the women that we serve heal from trauma and gain the strength to improve their lives, gain self-sufficiency, and play a contributing part within their communities upon reentry,” said Steve Blank, Regional Vice President, WestCare GulfCoast-Florida, Inc.
This collaboration promises a bright future for WestCare GulfCoast-Florida and RTWI’s mission and fills us with hope and optimism!
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Learn more about the Red Tent Women’s Initiative here: redtentwomensinitiative.org
