What 5,000 Women Learn in an 80-Hour Reentry Program Based in Reno
Women 4 Change built its reentry work around LifeScripting, an 80-hour curriculum that the organization says has graduated more than 5,000 incarcerated women. Its focus begins before release, where old patterns, family ties, and future choices are already on the table.
Misty described LifeScripting as a second chance as she prepared for life after prison: “This program gave me a second chance!” Amanda connected that shift to the first moments of each day: “I wake up every morning looking at the world with a whole new perspective.” She also said the course helped her continue changing her behavior.
In class, women examine the belief systems and patterns behind their life choices, then reframe traumatic experiences as learning opportunities.
Women 4 Change, based in Reno and working across California and Arizona, built its work around the proprietary LifeScripting program Virginia Dunstone developed to help incarcerated women recognize and change the belief systems and patterns tied to their life choices, then apply those skills during reentry. Women 4 Change Inc The organization’s LifeScripting curriculum takes 80 hours to work through, addressing self, family, relationships, and society while women are still incarcerated and preparing for release.
How a Reno-based organization supports women's reentry
Women 4 Change received nonprofit status in 2003 and built its work around LifeScripting, the proprietary program developed by executive director Virginia Dunstone to help incarcerated women recognize and change the belief systems and patterns tied to their life choices.
In practice, LifeScripting addresses four areas: self, family, relationships, and society. Participants examine the beliefs and patterns behind their choices, then prepare to use that insight as they return to their families and communities.
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What 5,000 LifeScripting graduates represent
More than 5,000 women have graduated from LifeScripting. A ten-year study of women who graduated from the program indicated a recidivism or return rate of less than 4%. The program’s defined curriculum, graduate count, and reported outcome make its work unusually assessable: readers can see what Women 4 Change teaches and the result it reports.
Give to the work the record can name
The program’s stated purpose is to help women apply its work after release across self, family, relationships, and society.
Frequently asked questions
- What is LifeScripting?
- LifeScripting is Women 4 Change’s proprietary 80-hour program for incarcerated women. It focuses on recognizing and changing belief systems and patterns connected to life choices while preparing for life after prison.
- How does Women 4 Change support women reentering society?
- The organization focuses on personal growth in self, family, relationships, and society. Its stated goal is to equip women leaving prison with information and skills for productive lives.
- Where is Women 4 Change based?
- Women 4 Change is based in Reno, Nevada. Its supplied profile lists its scope as California and Arizona.
- How many women have completed LifeScripting?
- Women 4 Change reports that more than 5,000 women have graduated from the LifeScripting program.
- What do donations to Women 4 Change fund?
- According to the organization’s supplied profile, donations fund LifeScripting program services and services for women and their families.
- women4change.net ↗
- Women 4 Change built its work around LifeScripting, a proprietary 80-hour program designed to help incarcerated women recognize old patterns and prepare for life after prison.
- First-party data identifies more than 5,000 LifeScripting graduates among incarcerated women.
- The organization’s stated mission focuses on providing women in prison with information and skills for personal growth in the areas of self, family, relationships, and society.
- Virginia Dunstone developed LifeScripting and is identified in the first-party data as Women 4 Change’s executive director.
- Women 4 Change received nonprofit status in 2003, according to the organization’s first-party milestone data.