Success Stories
A Helping hand at Just the Right Time
Charles Eastman started to get into trouble with the law as a teenager. The trouble continued into his adulthood when he eventually had to serve five years in prison. While incarcerated, he thought about his life and about what he could do to turn his life around when he got out. He was given the opportunity to put his life on the right path when he was referred to the Transitional Services program after his release. Project Rehab’s Transitional Services helps those reentering the community after incarceration by providing the support needed to successfully reintegrate into society. But when the time came, he wasn’t sure if he was up to the challenge. In a state of depression, Charles explains that he was “packed up and ready to run away from everything.” But his parole officer and the Transitional Services staff worked with him to help him believe in himself again. They connected him with community resources and provided employment coaching. Eventually, after living in a Project Rehab transitional housing unit for a while, he got his own place to live. “Without the staff’s mental uplifting, I’d be back in prison.” He’s proud of what he’s accomplished and says, “I have a good job, with lots of positive feedback, and I go to a welcoming church.” His hope is to one day provide counseling to youths to help them get and stay on the right path.
Charles’ story appears in 40 Stories of Courage and Hope: Celebrating 40 Years of Project Rehab, which was published in Fall 2008 in recognition of Project Rehab’s 40th anniversary. Click here to read more stories about our courageous clients and the treatment pioneers who helped make recovery possible.
This story is sponsored by Trivalent Group