Stacy Khemphfer spent a cumulative 10 years incarcerated across three prison sentences, facing addiction, loss, and repeated barriers to reentry. With the help of Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake’s SEETTS (Supporting Ex-Offenders in Employment, Training, and Transitional Services) Reentry Program, she gained the job readiness skills and reentry support she needed to rebuild her credit, find stable housing, secure employment, and reconnect with her family.
“I went from a hopeless menace-to-society, to actually getting my life together… I really do believe that when you do good, good things happen to you.”
That’s Stacy Khemphfer talking. And if you knew where she started, you’d understand exactly why those words carry so much weight.
Stacy’s story is one of hardship: childhood trauma, addiction, loss, and years behind bars. But it’s also a story about what becomes possible when the right reentry support is available to incarcerated individuals who are determined to rebuild their lives. Her journey through Goodwill’s SEETTS Reentry Program is a testament to resilience, and a reminder that second chances are not only possible, but life-changing.
A Rough Start in Life
Stacy was only 9 years old when she lost her mother. That single loss set off a chain of events that would define the next two decades of her life.
Placed in the foster care system, she faced abuse during her most formative years. By 15, she had turned to drugs. Without the support or care that comes from a stable childhood home, Stacy entered adulthood carrying wounds that hadn’t healed. Her 20s were spent cycling in and out of prison on drug-related charges, each sentence feeling like confirmation that there was no way out.
One Step Forward, Two Steps Back
After her first incarceration, Stacy managed to do something remarkable: she got sober for a full year and launched her own cleaning business. She was genuinely thriving and turning her life around, building a strong foundation for herself to begin a new life.
Then tragedy struck again. Stacy became pregnant, and her son was stillborn. Without the coping tools to process that kind of grief, she relapsed. A parole violation followed. And just like that, she was back inside, watching the life she’d worked so hard to build slip away.
The Challenges of Reentering Society
Each time Stacy was released, she ran headfirst into the same walls that stop so many formerly incarcerated people from moving forward.
Employers turned her away because of her record. For someone just starting to get back on their feet, probation and parole fees quickly become overwhelming. And in her home area of Western Maryland, sober housing programs were scarce. The lack of local reentry support wasn’t just inconvenient; it was a structural barrier that kept pushing her back toward the same toxic patterns.
She felt trapped. Not because she lacked the will to change, but because her environment offered little hope for real pathways forward.
The Decision to Change
As Stacy approached the release date for her third sentence, she knew something needed to change. Not just for herself, but for her estranged 15-year-old daughter who needed a mother in her life.
She threw herself into every program the prison offered. Most of them, she admits, were simply not useful for her. Finally, her case manager referred her to Goodwill’s SEETTS Reentry Program, and everything changed.
Meaningful Mentorship and Valuable Guidance
The Goodwill SEETTS Reentry Program provides formerly incarcerated individuals in Maryland with structured reentry support: job readiness training, employment assistance, and access to resources that make the transition back into society feel less impossible.
For Stacy, the program’s most meaningful component was Instructor Bai-Lama, who pushed her to take the program seriously. He coached her through crucial job readiness skills that she’d never had the chance to develop and connected her with resources on everything from finding housing to repairing her credit score. Upon release, Stacy was able to improve her credit score nearly 200 points with Bai-Lama’s advice.
That kind of practical, personalized reentry support is transformative for someone who is starting from ground zero.
New Beginnings
As she faced reentering society, Stacy knew that it would take continuous hard work and determination to break out of her lifelong habits.
She went through rehab treatment, moved to an entirely new area where she knew no one, stayed in a sober living home, and landed a job at her local Goodwill Retail Store and Donation Center with the help of Instructor Bai-Lama, who continued to stay in touch and support Stacy in any way possible.
Where Stacy Is Now
After getting back on her feet in the workforce as a Merchandise Processor at Goodwill, Stacy landed a job as a secretary for a construction company. There, she has been able to work comfortably from home at a higher wage.
Holding secure, meaningful employment was just one building block to her fresh start. Stacy is now sober. She got married in May. Prior to the wedding, she and her now-husband bought their first car together. Perhaps most meaningfully, she and her daughter and putting in the time and love to rebuild their relationship.
As Stacy says, “when you do good, good things happen to you.”
Ready for Your Second Chance?
Stacy’s story is one of many. Formerly incarcerated individuals frequently become trapped in a cycle of recidivism as they face structural barriers to finding employment opportunities, stable housing, financial independence, and supportive community.
Every day, Goodwill of the Chesapeake works with individuals who are navigating the challenges of reentry, helping them find solid footing, meaningful employment, and a realistic, manageable path forward. Structured reentry support, delivered by people who genuinely care, is what bridges the gap between release and rebuilding.
If you or someone you know is looking for reentry support in Maryland, explore Goodwill’s free workforce development programs today. It is never too late to take the next step toward your future: goodwillches.org/programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Goodwill’s SEETTS Reentry Program
What is Goodwill’s SEETTS Reentry Program?
SEETTS stands for Supporting Ex-Offenders in Employment, Training, and Transitional Services. Goodwill’s SEETTS Reentry Program is a Maryland-based initiative that helps prepare incarcerated individuals to be successful upon release, providing job readiness training, employment placement assistance, and any additional transitional support services necessary to smooth the transition back into society. Learn more about the SEETTS programs from one of our Skills Instructors, Shelly Tindale-Brown.
Who is eligible for the Goodwill SEETTS Prison Reentry Program?
Goodwill partners with Maryland’s Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services to provide the SEETTS prison reentry program. The program is available to individuals who are currently incarcerated and approaching their release at Baltimore City Correctional Center (BCCC), Maryland Correctional Institute for Women (MCIW), and Dorsey Run Correctional Facility (DRCF). Ex-offenders who have already completed their sentences and been released are encouraged to explore Goodwill’s range of other free workforce development and job training programs.
What kind of reentry support does Goodwill’s SEETTS program provide?
Participants complete a course prior to release to receive job readiness coaching that covers many important topics including interviewing skills, resume writing, and awareness of employment laws and the ability to self-advocate. In addition to job readiness support, participants receive personalized guidance and resources for financial literacy, finding housing, and rehabilitative programs. Upon release, Instructors continue to support program participants through acquiring employment and getting back on their feet, however long that may take an individual based on their personal circumstances.
Can a reentry support program really help someone with a long criminal record find work?
Yes. Stacy Khemphfer’s story is a direct example: after three separate incarcerations and a cumulative 10 years in prison, she secured employment through Goodwill and went on to obtain a higher-paying remote position as a secretary. Effective prison reentry support programs address employment barriers, as well as the broader challenges that affect long-term stability, from housing and finances to community and mental health.
