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REAL LIFE provides services and support to individuals rebuilding their lives after incarceration, substance use, and life instability. Sarah Scarbrough, PhD, is the founder and executive director.
Tell us a little about your agency and your role there.
I am the Founder and Executive Director of REAL LIFE, a nonprofit organization that provides recovery housing and comprehensive programming for individuals rebuilding their lives after incarceration, substance use, and life instability. In addition to housing, we offer wraparound services including workforce development, life coaching, and community-based violence intervention initiatives that address the root causes of harm. Our work focuses on creating pathways to stability, purpose, and long-term transformation for individuals, families, and communities.
When and how did you and /or your agency become involved with the GRTICN?
We became involved with the GRTICN years ago, around the time the network was first established, because its focus strongly aligns with our mission and approach at REAL LIFE. Our work is grounded in trauma-informed care, not only in how we serve individuals, but in how we design and deliver our programs, train our staff, and engage the community. The GRTICN provides a collaborative space to deepen our understanding, strengthen our practices, and ensure we are responding to the root causes of trauma that impact the individuals and families we serve. This partnership supports our commitment to creating environments of healing, safety, and long-term transformation.
How has your agency’s participation in the GRTICN impacted its practices and policies?
Our participation in the GRTICN has been especially impactful through the trauma-informed trainings they provide. These trainings have strengthened our staff’s understanding of how trauma affects behavior and engagement, and have helped us refine our policies, interactions, and programming to better support healing and safety. As a result, we have been able to create more responsive services and a more supportive environment for those we serve.
What are some trauma-informed/resilience-building initiatives or goals your agency is currently working toward?
We are focused on ongoing training to both refresh staff who have previously been trained and equip newer team members with a strong trauma-informed foundation. Continuous learning is important to us to ensure our approach remains consistent, responsive, and aligned with best practices. We are also exploring and participating in new trainings we have not previously engaged in, allowing us to deepen our understanding of trauma, strengthen resilience-building strategies, and further enhance the quality of care and support we provide to those we serve.
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