Since 1898, Volunteers of America has championed the humane treatment of prisoners and provided services to help offenders successfully transition from prison to productive life in the community. Backed by its previous legacy of services, Volunteers of America continues to develop innovative, evidence-based service models to serve the disconnected and socially disadvantaged persons re-entering society after periods of incarceration.

In 2004, Volunteers of America’s unique partnership with Scholastic Books provided an opportunity to reach out to incarcerated parents in the Inland Northwest through Words Travel, providing not only life-changing benefits for incarcerated parents but also making a direct impact on the health and vitality of their families and the local community.