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Case Study
Peer Mentoring.
Reentry Support.
New Futures.
How Candice Baughman helped support a peer mentoring pathway connected to the Rotary Reentry Course at the Washington Correction Center for Women, helping women prepare for life after release with dignity, confidence, and practical support.
Project
Peer Mentoring Program
Partner Context
Rotary Reentry Course at WCCW
Support Model
Mentorship, basic needs, employment & follow-up support
Year
2023–2024
Overview
Supporting Women Through the Most Critical Stage of Reentry.
The Need
The Rotary Reentry Course at the Washington Correction Center for Women helped students prepare for release by developing practical life skills. But one major gap remained: women needed reliable peer mentors and community-based support once they left incarceration.
The Case Study
From Preparation to Real-World Support
01
The Challenge
Women preparing to leave incarceration often face fear, uncertainty, isolation, and urgent basic needs. Without trusted support before and after release, the transition can become overwhelming.
02
Candice’s Role
Candice supported the peer mentoring connection by helping students prepare before release, identifying needs, answering program questions, and connecting participants to practical reentry resources.
03
The Result
Students were able to leave with more confidence, a stronger support system, and clearer pathways toward employment, transportation, communication, and community connection.
Candice’s Involvement
Lived Experience Became Practical Leadership.
Candice Baughman’s work in this program was rooted in both professional commitment and lived experience. She understood the fear and uncertainty that can come with release, and she helped transform that understanding into a practical support model.
Through the peer mentoring pathway, participants could be contacted before release, have their needs identified, and be connected to community resources after release. This included support around employment, transportation, basic needs, getting a phone, follow-up mentoring, and confidence-building.
The heart of the project was simple but powerful: women should not be expected to rebuild their lives alone.
Step 01
Connection Before Release
Students preparing for release were contacted ahead of time to establish relationship, understand their circumstances, and identify the support they needed to begin again.
Step 02
Basic Needs & Reentry Planning
Support focused on practical needs such as clothing, transportation, employment services, phone access, and connections to agencies across Washington.
Step 03
Peer Mentorship & Follow-Up
After release, participants had access to follow-up mentoring and coaching relationships to help them stay grounded as they adjusted to life in the community.
Impact
What This Program Helped Create
This case study shows Candice’s ability to turn lived experience into structured reentry support, helping organizations close the gap between release preparation and real-world reintegration.
01
More confidence before release
02
Stronger support systems after release
03
Connections to employment and basic needs
04
Peer-led support rooted in lived experience
“The missing piece was providing mentors for women as they were released.”Based on the April 18, 2024 Rotary Reentry letter from Jeanne Peterson, Rotary Reentry Supervisor, describing Interaction Transition, Candice Baughman’s responsiveness, and the impact of peer mentoring support for students preparing to leave WCCW.
Proof & Related Links
Sources That Support the Story
These links help verify the partner organizations, reentry context, Candice’s broader role, and the peer mentoring model behind this case study.
Ed 4 Empowerment Rotary Page
This page directly describes Candice Baughman helping the Rotary Reentry Course at WCCW create a peer mentoring program with Interaction Transition support.
View SourceInteraction Transition
Interaction Transition is the Seattle-based nonprofit connected to reentry support, peer mentoring, employment assistance, and basic-needs support.
Visit WebsiteInteraction Transition Programs
Their programs page describes peer mentoring as support that links recently released participants with logistical planning, emotional support, and recovery tools.
View ProgramsWashington DOC Feature
Washington Department of Corrections recognized Candice as founder and CEO of Ed 4 Empowerment and described her service supporting reentry-centered programs.
Read FeatureWashington Reentry Council
Washington State Commerce lists Candice’s work guiding justice-impacted individuals toward housing stability, education access, employment pathways, and community connection.
View Council PageSeattle Public Library Resource Listing
SPL lists Interaction Transition as a reentry resource offering employment assistance, peer mentoring, and basic support for formerly incarcerated people.
View ResourceBuild a Reentry Program Rooted in Dignity, Mentorship & Real Support
Ed 4 Empowerment helps nonprofits, agencies, and community partners create meaningful support systems for justice-impacted individuals before, during, and after reentry.