Today we’d like to introduce you to April Foster.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, how did you get started?
I was raised in a household deeply rooted in faith, where serving the community and caring for our neighbors weren’t just values but the fabric of our family’s ethos. My mother, in particular, embodied these principles and was a strong role model for me. From my earliest memories, I watched how she intentionally loved people, and I felt drawn to do the same. As I got older and contemplated my future career path, I realized I could turn my passion for community into a profession. I declared my major in my first year and began carving a path to a career in the juvenile/criminal justice field.
As I began my career in juvenile justice, my focus centered on working with youth aged 13-24 transitioning from incarceration. Over a decade dedicated to this demographic, I experienced notable success working with men and boys; they rarely returned to incarceration. Women and girls were a different story, though. Each female client seemed to inevitably cycle back into the system, which left me questioning my approach and competence. That inability to figure out where I was falling short became a source of incredible frustration. I found myself negotiating with my supervisor, proposing to take on additional male clients in exchange for avoiding female ones. To her credit, she refused to let me cave that easily and challenged me to figure it out.
I began reading everything I could find, trying to understand what I could do differently to positively impact the trajectory of these women and girls. Wanting to delve deeper, I enrolled in a Master of Social Work program, where my concentration focused on gender-responsive programming for justice-involved girls and women. Back in the 90s, the research on the intersection of gender and criminal justice involvement was limited, but there were some compelling and groundbreaking findings. What I learned is that women possess distinct pathways into criminal activity and unique needs upon reintegrating into society post-incarceration. This revelation prompted a profound shift in my mindset and approach –we have to focus on the specific needs of women if we hope to impact change. With this newfound perspective and approach, I witnessed tangible progress and successes among my female clients. Each achievement became a testament to the power of understanding, empathy, and tailored intervention in reshaping lives and communities.
As time passed, I gradually expanded my perspective beyond the individuals I directly assisted, recognizing that the issue extended far beyond my immediate sphere of influence. It became evident that the challenges facing justice-involved women were part of a broader trend. While incarceration rates for men had shown a steady decline over the years, the numbers for women had surged, skyrocketing by 700% since 1980. This disparity isn’t surprising given that most programming is tailored to the incarcerated majority (e.g., men). However, it’s also deeply troubling and wholly unacceptable. The realization of this systemic failure led me to research centered on women-focused issues and ultimately guided me to my current role, leading an organization dedicated to empowering women. It fueled my commitment to advocating for justice-involved women throughout my career.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story. Has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
I didn’t have a privileged upbringing—I didn’t grow up with money, attend top-tier schools, or have extensive networks to help pave my way early in my career. However, I believe much of my success stems from the bumps and detours along the way. One of the most impactful struggles stemmed from my personal experiences with my former spouse, Greg. We met as teenagers. Greg was a charismatic risk-taker who loved life and cared deeply for people, characteristics that immediately drew me to him. Our friendship quickly turned into a deep love, and we eventually married.
During the initial years of our marriage, as I dedicated more time and energy to my career, Greg’s trajectory veered in a vastly different direction. His risk-taking behaviors escalated, resulting in sporadic drug use that gradually grew more frequent and dangerous, putting strain on our relationship. Eventually, after five years, we separated. Despite this, Greg and I remained close, supporting each other through life’s triumphs and trials. Over time, however, his wins became fewer and further between, overshadowed by mounting difficulties, including periods of incarceration and worsening substance use. I felt helpless – the community resources and support were limited, even for someone desperately seeking help. Eventually, the dreaded call came: Greg had suffered a fatal overdose.
This experience gave me a deep understanding of the systemic challenges surrounding incarceration and substance use, which fueled my determination to advocate for vulnerable communities. It also instilled in me deep empathy for the loved ones of those in crisis. As the work became increasingly personal, I found myself building deeper connections with people with their own reasons for engaging in this work. Among them, some have become my very best friends and biggest sources of support as I continue to navigate this path. The struggles will always be there, but build your community and find your cheerleaders. You’ll get through it.
As you know, we’re big fans of Keyway Center for Diversion and Reentry. What can you tell our readers who might need to be more familiar with the brand?
The field of juvenile and criminal justice is often overlooked and under-resourced. For years, I searched for what I thought was the golden ticket—the funder or organization with all the resources necessary to deliver high-quality services and support to the people we worked with. Throughout my career, I’ve worked with various organizations, from small, resourceful nonprofits to highly regarded academic institutions and organizations with seemingly endless financial resources where financial obstacles to our work were virtually nonexistent. However, I’ve learned that while highly resourced organizations may look great on the surface, they aren’t always the best cultural fit for me.
Despite the draw of ample resources, I’ve discovered that genuine fulfillment and the ability to produce my best work stem from aligning values and passion within an organization. It’s about more than just having the necessary tools and funding; it’s about being part of a team that shares a collective vision, values, and commitment to positively impacting the lives of those we serve. It’s about fostering a sense of purpose and belonging beyond the material resources available.
This is what I’ve found at Keyway. As a team member, I am surrounded by individuals who support one another and our participants. This team is deeply rooted in our trauma-informed and strengths-based core values. We recognize and nurture the inherent strengths of the women we serve, working to help them amplify these strengths with new skills and knowledge that empower them to thrive. As an organization, we are acutely aware of the unique needs of justice-involved women. We understand the importance of providing safe, supportive housing and necessities, allowing our participants to feel secure enough to begin healing from trauma through our comprehensive behavioral health services and building skills through vocational training and life skills workshops.
We also recognize the indispensable role of our community in fulfilling our mission. We understand that it truly does take a village, and we actively encourage community members to find ways to engage with and support Keyway. For our participants, witnessing community members step up to help them has a profound impact that words cannot fully capture.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
My mom used to joke that if she had to sum me up in one word, it would be “stubborn.” But I prefer to see it as perseverance! When faced with a challenge, if one approach doesn’t work, I’m determined to explore every avenue until I find a solution that does. That quality has served me well. I’ve made it my mission to seek opportunities to positively impact women’s lives actively. Through direct service work, I’ve witnessed firsthand how women can reclaim their power and forge successful paths beyond prison walls. Through my involvement in research and developing gender-responsive, evidence-based interventions, I’ve seen the transformative effects of intentional focus on women and girls in program development. Leading an entire gender-responsive organization, I’m proud to report that 9 out of 10 program participants remain in the community two years post-incarceration—a 66% reduction compared to the state’s average recidivism rate.
