Good afternoon distinguished members of the American Correctional Association,
My name is Cecelia Whitfield, Founder and Executive Director of Use What You've Got Ministry Keeping Families Connected, a community-based organization serving families impacted by incarceration for over 38 years in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Today, I bring before you not just a program-but a proven pathway to restoration.
The Reentry Gap We Must Address
Reentry is not just about releasing individuals from correctional facilities-it is about restoring them to families, communities, and purpose.
However, many individuals return home to:
- Broken family relationships
- Lack of transportation and access to services
- Untreated trauma and mental health challenges
- Limited support systems
Without intervention, these barriers contribute directly to recidivism.
Our Solution: Keeping Families Connected
At Use What You've Got Ministry Keeping Families Connected, we have spent nearly four decades addressing one of the most overlooked yet critical components of successful reentry:
👉 Family Connection
We provide:
- Transportation to 18 correctional facilities across Indiana
- Life skills and family engagement programming
- Men's and Women's healing retreats
- Nutrition and wellness education
- Trauma-informed support services
We have driven over 700,000 miles to ensure families can stay connected.
Because when families stay connected-
Hope stays alive. Accountability increases. Recidivism decreases.
Why Transportation Matters in Reentry
Transportation is not just a service-it is a lifeline.
Without it:
- Families cannot visit
- Bonds weaken
- Children suffer emotionally
- Returning citizens lose their support system
Research has shown that individuals who maintain family connections during incarceration are significantly less likely to reoffend.
Introducing "Healing on the Bus"
We are expanding our model through an innovative initiative called:
"Healing on the Bus"
This model transforms transportation into a mobile reentry and wellness hub, providing:
- Trauma-informed care
- Mental health support
- Health education
- Resource navigation
- Onboard programming through digital learning
We are not just moving people-
We are moving lives toward healing.
My Recommendations to ACA
I respectfully offer the following recommendations:
- Recognize Family Connection as Core to Reentry
Make family engagement a standard component of reentry planning.
- Invest in Transportation Infrastructure
Support community-based transportation programs as part of correctional systems.
- Strengthen Community Partnerships
Collaborate with grassroots organizations that have trusted relationships in communities.
- Integrate Holistic Services
Include mental health, wellness, and life skills as part of reentry-not afterthoughts.
- Address the Digital Divide
Ensure families have access to communication tools and technology for connection.
A Call to Action
For 38 years, we have done this work with limited resources-but unlimited faith and commitment.
Now is the time to scale what works.
Imagine a system where:
- Every incarcerated individual has access to family connection
- Every returning citizen has a support system waiting
- Every community benefits from reduced recidivism and restored lives
This is not just possible-
It is already happening.
Closing
I stand before you not only as a leader, but as someone personally impacted by incarceration in my own family.
That experience became my purpose.
And that purpose became a movement.
I invite the American Correctional Association to partner with us-to expand this model, strengthen reentry, and help families stay connected across this nation.
Because when we strengthen families-
We strengthen public safety.
Thank you.
Cecelia Whitfield
www.usewhatyouvegotministry.org
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Cecelia Whitfield
Executive Director
Keeping Families Connected, Inc.
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