Partner with the National Coalition for Full Opportunity for Felons 

Last year, N.C.F.O.F., Delaware State Representative Karen E. Peterson and other advocates were successful in their effort to remove licensing barriers that kept people returning to communities after serving their time for felony convictions from many jobs, including jobs they had trained for while in prison. Over 30 professional licenses were affected under this important victory for people seeking full reentry into our communities.

N.C.F.O.F. is a major project of the Addictions Coalition of Delaware. Wendell Howell is the Executive Director of the Coalition and National Chair of the N.C.F.O.F. He realized that the barriers that were keeping people with drug convictions from jobs, housing and education were also making it difficult for them to sustain their recovery, landing them back in jail, making it even harder on their kids, families and communities.

N.C.F.O.F. is working to partner with others to eliminate the barriers that felons and persons who were formerly incarcerated face. They are interested in hosting Roundtable events in other states to build local coalition and other support for policies that will make it possible for felons to regain their full citizenship rights and fully participate in society.

Reprinted with permission from Faces and Voices of Recovery eNews.

(2/18/2005)