Incarceration to independence: Christine Money helps the journey

She didn’t see it at the time.

“When I was a child in Michigan, my parents volunteered to work with juveniles in detention. Many of them struggled with serious challenges. Then, after we moved to Louisville, Kentucky, my high school boyfriend’s mother was a social worker and had been a warden of a women’s prison. The stage was set," said Christine Money.

“Up until I entered college at the University of Kentucky, I thought I wanted to be a physical therapist. But I took an introduction to social work course and decided to pursue social work as a profession. I never dreamed I would end up with a career in corrections. However, when I reflect back, I can see the seeds were planted along the way.”

Money became a prison warden in Ohio, among other things, not long after she moved here.

“When I graduated from OSU with a master’s in social work, I pursued positions working with children," she said.

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"I was unsuccessful. So I knew someone who worked as a social worker at the Chillicothe Correctional Institution and I applied for a social-work position there as a substance-abuse counselor. That started a 30-year career in corrections that included serving as the warden of three Ohio prisons and ending as the interim director of the Ohio Department of Youth Services .”

In 2011, Money joined a group of Kairos Prison Ministry volunteers who had a vision to start a nonprofit organization. The idea was to assist incarcerated men and women in their reentry into society. That organization is now Westerville-based Kindway. Money is the executive director.

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“We formed a design team and developed EMBARK, a Christian reentry ministry ,” she explained. “EMBARK began at Marion Correctional Institution and Ohio Reformatory for Women in 2011, expanded to Pickaway Correctional Institution in 2021 and Madison Correctional Institution in 2023," Money said.

“EMBARK provides programming, facilitated by Kindway staff, volunteers and incarcerated individuals inside prison to equip participants for success.

"In addition, EMBARK stays connected to those returning citizens to assist them in transitioning to the community. We provide housing and housing partners, job partners, mentors and case management. A large support community is in place to welcome our alumni home. To date, 207 participants completed EMBARK inside prison and have transitioned to the community. For those who’ve stayed connected to us one year post release, their success rate is 98%.”

It was never in the plans for Money.

“But I’ve been called by God to assist men and women on their journey from incarceration to independence. Clearly everything in my life prepared me for what I do today. Plus, the support of my husband and children have been critical in being able to manage the many challenges of a life dedicated to service.”

Drew Bracken grew up in Upper Arlington, was a TV news anchor for years and is a longtime freelance writer for Gannett newspapers. If you have a suggestion for a future inspirational profile, email Emily Rohozen, entertainment and things-to-do editor, at erohozen@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Incarceration to independence: Christine Money helps the journey