Colin Slaven
President and Founder of Inmate Care, LLC
The idea for Inmatecare.com was created while I was serving a 21 month sentence in a South Carolina Federal Prison for a conspiracy charge. During this time I had a lot of time to think about my life and choices, especially when I spent my last 6 weeks in solitary confinement. The gut wrenching feeling I had every moment of the day, the shame I put on myself, my family and friends, losing everything, not being there for my kids, having no control over anything was the toughest challenge I’d ever faced.
It was around 6 months into my sentence when I was informed that my early release was denied and that I would be serving out my full sentence. I was at a low point, depressed, losing hope and being tested in my faith when I and asked God to give me a sign, an answer….
ANYTHING !!!
I remember vividly picking up the bible of a fellow inmate, flicking through the pages randomly and without looking I placed my finger on a page and this is where my finger landed:
PROVERBS 3:5-6
“TRUST IN THE LORD with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths”.
It didn’t all make sense at the time why I landed where I did but it sure does now.
It’s hard to explain but the feeling that came over me was like a wave of newly found energy I hadn’t felt in a long time. I started working out more, educating myself on the prison system, talking to other inmates about their circumstances and listening to what brought them to this chapter in their lives. At the time I had had never heard of the word “Recidivism”.
I read many books that I most definitely wouldn’t have read if not incarcerated but these books gave me a new outlook on life and one day it hit me. Call it an “Epiphany” or my “Ah Ha Moment” but either way, it was “My Life Changing Moment”. I asked God “What the Bloody Hell am I here for? What is my “PURPOSE” in life? I just knew that somehow I was in this situation for a reason and it was my calling to make a difference. It was at that moment I started sitting down daily and began writing the business plan for Inmatecare.com
My goal was to create a website / resource center that could act as a guide to important information / knowledge and serve as a proactive approach in helping inmates, reentering citizens, their families and loved ones before, during and after incarceration.
After my release in February 2014 it was tough getting back on my feet. I found out firsthand how difficult it was to attain employment. I was denied employment several times due to background checks and had no other choice than to go into business for myself. Many businesses and consumers also chose not to do business with me due to my history and felon status. This wasn’t easy and caused many set-backs with my business but I never gave up.
Life continued but I never lost my passion for InmateCare.com.
God works in mysterious ways. In 2016 he put Debbie in my life. I can’t take all the credit as it was Debbie (now my wife) who pushed me to take the inmate care business plan off the shelf, dust it off and to start somewhere. That we did and in just a few years we created something that we both never imagined would grow into a life time mission / purpose we both know is our calling.
Our objective and mission with Inmatecare.com was to reduce recidivism and help inmates, reentering citizens and family members find great career paths through education, training and career placement so www.secondchancejobs.org and www.secondchancejobcenter.com were created. What started off as a plan to assist inmates and reentering citizens has now grown into helping out so many more people from veterans (www.veterancare.com), displaced workers to high school and college students (www.327Careers.com) who just don’t have a career path, need guidance and a many times, a Second Chance.
Religious or not, this is what I will tell you. I wouldn’t change a thing. I truly believe we are all put through tests in our lives for a reason. I’m certain that all is predetermined. God / The Universe works in very mysterious ways. I’m glad I was put through my tests and know there will be many more. The bottom line is: Without failure, how are we supposed to learn and grow?
Also, whenever you pay if forward and give back into this world / universe, it will come back 10 fold.
Our Mission
Our mission for Inmatecare.com & Feloncare.com is to ensure that inmates, reentering citizens and their loved ones understand the process that they will be going through during the difficult chapters in their lives and educate them on their rights, what to expect before, during and after sentencing / incarceration and a plan for reentry back into society and therefore a second chance in life.
Reducing recidivism and creating hope / faith one inmate / reentering citizen at a time with our Second Chance Employment Program is already proving to make a difference for so many. With the continued support from communities and businesses to include the political support on a state and federal level, we are confident that we can all make a huge dent into this vicious cycle of recidivism nationally.
OUR PARTNERSHIPS
& SUPPORTERS
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR APPROVED AND CERTIFIED
Our programs are recognized and certified through the DOL (Department of Labor) and THE NAHB (National Association of Home Builders) nationally.
In March 2019 we became the first entity / training provider in the USA approved by the DOL (Department of Labor) to manage, operate, control and facilitate apprenticeships for employers. Up until March 2019, businesses / corporations were mandated by the DOL to manage, control, operate and facilitate their own apprenticeships
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HOME BUILDERS (NAHB) & HBA
Our partnership with The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the Home Builders Association (HBA) members in the areas we serve, allows us to train and certify tomorrow’s tradesmen and has led to the creation of new Apprenticeship Programs designed to specifically support business owners in the building and construction industry.
APPRENTICESHIP CAROLINA
Apprenticeship Carolina, a division of the SC College System works to ensure that all employers in South Carolina have access to the information and technical assistance they need to create demand-driven registered apprenticeship programs.
Apprenticeship Carolina has guided us through the registered apprenticeship development process for many of our pre-and full apprenticeships from start to finish having them fully recognized in the National Registered Apprenticeship System. We are very fortunate as South Carolina is 1 of only 3 States in the country to offer employers this service
OUR LOCAL
& NATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS
INMATE CARE & FELON CARE
PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
INMATE CARE & FELON CARE ARE PROUD PARTNERS OF THE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS:
• High School Graduates
• College / Technical School Students
• Current Tradesmen / Women Seeking to Further Their Education and Certifications
• Incumbent Workers
• Dislocated Workers
• Re-Entering Citizens
The objective / mission is the same for all organizations and that is to educate and inform all about the benefits of the path in a skilled labor trade and assist students through education, training, pre-apprenticeships, full registered apprenticeships and ultimately achieve the goal of receiving a nationally recognized certification.
are our Employer / Staffing Agency Partners who place our students with local employer partners in the areas we serve for the on the job paid practical training portion of our apprenticeship programs.
Please visit the sites below to learn more about each organization:
Help Support Veteran Care’s Efforts
Our belief is that it takes a village to make a difference. There are so many opportunities to support Veteran Care including volunteering, teaching, donating and fundraising.
Please contact us directly to inquire.
Assisting the inmate population, reentering citizens and their loved ones before, during and after incarceration with important resources & services and providing real career opportunities to make a difference for themselves and their families through education, training, pre-apprenticeships, full registered apprenticeships and job / career placement.