Arouet Foundation empowers women after prison with employment

The Arouet Foundation was founded in 2011 to prepare women for success after they leave prison by providing them with education, employment and life skills. Arouet is championing the cause of fair chances for people who serve their time to have a fair chance at getting work and restoring their lives once they are out of prison.

Arouet is focused on long-term stability for participants. Coaches work 1-on-1 to get to know clients on a personal level, understand their backgrounds and help guide them to a future of stable employment, providing bundled wraparound services that address the complete needs of participants.

Allison Rapping, CEO of the Arouet Foundation, and State Representative Sarah Liguori (D) joined “Arizona Horizon” to discuss the impact their work is having on women in the program.

“Every woman gets their own personalized action plan so we work with them on financial support, economic support, workforce support, health care navigation and reintegration with their families. We provide comprehensive services so that each woman has the things they need to successfully reenter into society,” Rapping said.

Arouet is also helping women to stay out of prison once free. “In Arizona, we see 38 to 40% of people that come out of prison go back in within three years. At Arouet, our rate is 2%,” Rapping said.

Rapping believes one of the reasons for the success is because of the resources they provide to these women. “We help them get viable jobs, and then we help them get their children back, and they break the cycle of intergenerational poverty,” Rapping said.

Arouet is hosting a Fair Chance Employer Symposium on Oct. 10.