Fort Wayne, Indiana · 501(c)(3) Nonprofit
A Second Chance.A Clear Path Forward.
Helping individuals returning from incarceration overcome barriers to employment, housing, transportation, essential documents, recovery, and stability — because no one should have to rebuild their life alone.
No One Walks Alone
Our Mission
A true second chance — and the support to build on it.
Second Path Reentry Network exists to give individuals returning from incarceration a true second chance — not just an opportunity to start over, but the support and resources needed to build a better future.
We connect individuals with employment, housing, transportation, essential documents, financial education, mentoring, recovery support, and other critical resources while creating an individualized path toward stability and independence.
We believe every person deserves a second chance, a chance to be heard, and someone willing to walk beside them until they can walk confidently on their own.
Because at Second Path, No One Walks Alone.
Who We Are
Returning home is only the beginning.
Second Path Reentry Network is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping individuals successfully rebuild their lives after incarceration.
Many individuals face barriers to housing, employment, transportation, identification, financial stability, recovery support, and other basic needs necessary for a successful fresh start. Second Path was created to help bridge those gaps.
Through individualized reentry planning, community resources, employer partnerships, mentoring, and ongoing support, we help each participant create a realistic path toward stability, independence, and long-term success.
Who We Help
We meet each person where they are.
We support individuals transitioning from prison, jail, work release, community corrections, and other reentry settings — as well as those who have already returned home and continue to face barriers because of their past.
Some may need help finding employment or stable housing. Others may need transportation, identification, financial guidance, recovery support, mentoring, or connections to community resources.
We believe a person's past should not determine their future. With the right opportunities, resources, and support, people can rebuild their lives and move forward with confidence.
What We Do
We help people overcome the barriers that make starting over difficult.
We work with each participant to identify their individual needs, develop a personalized reentry plan, and connect them with the resources, opportunities, and ongoing support needed to move forward.
Employment & Career Support
Preparing for work, connecting with second-chance employers, and maintaining successful employment.
Housing Stability
Connections to housing resources, housing providers, and community partners.
Transportation Support
Identifying transportation barriers and connecting to available resources.
Recovery & Wellness
Treatment providers, peer support, and recovery communities that strengthen long-term stability.
Identification & Documents
State ID, driver's licenses, Social Security cards, birth certificates, and other essential records.
Financial Stability
Budgeting, banking, saving, credit awareness, and healthy financial habits.
Reentry Planning & Mentoring
Individualized plans, ongoing guidance, accountability, and follow-up.
Community Connections
A network of employers, housing providers, recovery organizations, and community agencies.
Fresh Start Self-Care
Haircuts, grooming, hygiene items, and clothing so participants walk into new opportunities with confidence.
Domestic Violence & Safety
Confidential support, safety planning, safe housing connections, and legal referrals through trained partners.
Why Second Path Is Needed
A second chance needs a path forward.
Returning home after incarceration should be an opportunity for a new beginning, but for many individuals the road forward is filled with barriers.
Finding employment, securing safe and stable housing, obtaining identification, accessing reliable transportation, managing finances, and connecting with recovery support can become overwhelming — especially when someone is trying to rebuild their life all at once.
We believe successful reentry requires more than simply providing someone with a list of resources. It requires a plan, meaningful opportunities, consistent support, and people willing to walk alongside them through the process.
That path is Second Path.
Our Approach
We begin with listening to the person — not just looking at their past.
- One-on-one work to identify immediate needs and understand barriers
- Goals established with the participant, not for them
- An individualized reentry plan toward stability and independence
- Whole-person focus: work, housing, transportation, documents, finances, recovery, mentoring
- Partnership rather than judgment; accountability with encouragement
- Support that continues beyond the first referral
No One Walks Alone
More than a saying — it is the foundation of how we serve. We don't simply point people toward services and hope they succeed. We listen. We help create a plan. We connect. We follow up. And we walk beside them until they can walk confidently on their own.
Because a second chance is more than opening a door — it is making sure there is a path on the other side.
From Our Founder
Born from lived experience.
Second Path Reentry Network was born from lived experience, years of leadership and mentoring, and seeing firsthand what can happen when people are given another chance but do not have the support or plan needed to move forward.
Sometimes a second chance needs a second path.
Katrina CooperFounder, Second Path Reentry Network
Get Help
You don't have to figure out your next step alone. Tell us what you need, and we'll help you build a plan for moving forward.
Partner With Us
Creating second chances takes a community. Employers, housing providers, recovery organizations, agencies, and individuals all have a role.
Donate
Your donation can help turn a second chance into a real opportunity — and invest in stronger families and a stronger community.
Contact Us
We would be glad to hear from you.
Whether you are seeking reentry support, interested in becoming a community partner, looking for ways to support our mission, or simply want to learn more — reach out.