Using the Aunt Bertha Search Bar
In 2021, the Austin/Travis County Reentry Roundtable conducted a survey to collect updated program information from organizations providing reentry services. The results were uploaded to the Aunt Bertha website, findhelp.org. The search bar on this page will take you to the Aunt Bertha database.
Instructions for the Aunt Bertha search bar
- Enter your zip code and click "search." This will open a new tab on findhelp.org.
- Findhelp.org will show services available in your zip code area. There will be icons in the header column that will show you services by their issue area. For example, click on the icon of a house to see organizations that will help you find housing or housing-related services.
- There is a search bar in the top left corner you can use to narrow the results. You can enter keywords into this search bar. The Reentry Services survey results were tagged with the keyword "criminal justice history." This tag means that people with justice involvement can access these services.
- You can also search by organization or program name. Please see the drop-down menu below for organization names with reentry services in the Austin/Travis County area.
Aunt Bertha has additional guides on their website:
People who have been involved with the criminal justice system often face obstacles in finding jobs, housing, and other necessities. The support of family and friends is an invaluable part of making reentry work. Some may also find assistance from mentors, faith communities, or support groups. Whether you are looking for help for yourself or someone you know, there are many resources to aid you.
In 2021, the Austin/Travis County Reentry Roundtable convened a workgroup with the following purpose:
- Identify organizations, programs, and services available to the reentry population in Travis County;
- Identify organizations, programs, and services targeted at the reentry population in Travis County; and
- Identify restrictions to accessing programs and services for the reentry population.
The workgroup released a survey to reentry service providers, and collected responses from 56 programs across 35 organizations. Services were organized by these key domains: Employment, Training & Education, Civic & Community Services, Legal, Housing, Physical and Behavioral Health, Basic Needs, and Family.
In the drop-down menu above, you will find the list of specific services in each key domain. Survey respondents were asked if they offer these services in-house, through referral to an outside organization, or not at all. The organizations listed under each key domain indicated that they offer services in-house.
Please contact Amanda Cassidy (Reentry Advocacy Fellow) at info@reentryroundtable.org for help navigating reentry services.
Additional Information and Referral
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- Call 2-1-1 or visit the 2-1-1 website for information and referrals to services in our community.
- The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has a division to handle reentry and reintegration. They have set up a hotline to answer people's questions about reentry. The toll free number is 1 (877) 887 – 6151.
- Texas Criminal Justice Coalition has a statewide reentry guide.
- Locked Out: A Texas Legal Guide to Reentry (4th edition released in 2020)
- www.texvet.com: Statewide information and referral service that helps veterans get linked up to resources including peer to peer meetings.
When Children Witness the Arrest of a Parent
Witnessing the arrest of a parent is a difficult and emotionally-charged event for children. At the time of arrest and afterward, a child is likely to experience a range of negative emotions. Some children will need a temporary caregiver, and all will need reassurance and compassion. The A/TCRRT and the Travis County Sheriff’s Office developed the following brochure to help caregivers understand what a child is going through, explain the arrest process, and give some ideas on how to help.