Serenity Rose Care Center is a program founded under Starting Point, Inc., a 501c3 nonprofit charitable organization. The organizations’ founder is Betty V. Washington, LPN, ALA.

The purpose in establishing Serenity Rose has been to provide a safe temporary home for women who are returning back to their communities after incarceration.

Our mission is to provide a healing, supportive and nurturing environment for these women while reuniting them with their families, communities, and providing resources for stable employment, healthcare and educational options. We want to change the narrative about women and incarceration as well as decrease their chances of recidivism.

History has taught us that women are stigmatized based on their background and socioeconomic class. Society tends to be less forgiving when it comes to women and their mistakes. Oftentimes, women lack the same financial and emotional support as many formerly incarcerated men. It’s often said that when we know better, we do better, however, knowing is only half the battle. In many instances, it will continue to take a village to provide the support needed to stay encouraged to navigate onto the path of success.

Together, we can change the trajectory in the lives of formerly incarcerated women and their successful reentry back into society. We want to enhance their quality of life and reinforce their self-esteem which has oftentimes been diminished through trauma.