Education rooted in dignity
Evidence-informed educational programs supporting personal growth and successful transition from incarceration to community life.
EducationKnowledge that empowers.
AccountabilityChoices that build trust.
A Path ForwardOpportunity. Purpose. Community.
Why we exist
The Idaho Wellness Project develops and delivers education for people impacted by the carceral system—during incarceration, through reentry, and beyond.
Our work brings together evidence-informed practice and lived experience. Participants build the emotional, psychological, educational, and practical skills needed to navigate change and create meaningful community lives.
Our programs
Designed for individual learning, with peer-led group use wherever facilities allow.
Program packages are in development. Select a program to join its interest list. No payment is collected at this stage. IWP will confirm printing availability, price, and the receiving facility’s rules before offering a package for purchase or shipment.
A twelve-week foundation in trauma education, adverse childhood experiences, nervous-system regulation, mindfulness, and resilience.
Created inside Idaho Maximum Security Institution by Rodolfo, Michael, and Mirza.
Practical preparation for the difficult crossing between incarceration and community life.
“From a family‑led fundraiser to
community education.”
Our story
Inside Idaho Maximum Security Institution, Rodolfo, Michael, and Mirza created S.H.I.F.T.—Self Help Initiative For Truth—as a resident-led effort grounded in accountability, integrity, education, physical wellness, and mutual support. It began with a simple but powerful belief: incarceration does not erase a person’s capacity to learn, contribute, take responsibility, or help others grow.
Truth is central to the name because meaningful change begins with honesty. It means looking openly at personal choices, harm, patterns, strengths, and responsibilities without excuses or denial. It also means recognizing the whole truth of a person: people must be accountable for what they have done, but they are not limited to the worst thing they have done. By facing the past honestly, participants can make different choices, rebuild trust, and create a more purposeful future.
The men envisioned a healthier culture shaped by discipline, reflection, encouragement, and shared purpose. Their families saw the value in what they were building and came together to support it, leading a community fundraiser to help provide outdoor gym and wellness equipment.
Although the equipment effort was later halted, the relationships, conversations, and sense of possibility it created did not disappear. What began as a practical attempt to support wellness inside revealed a wider need for accessible education, family connection, and meaningful pathways through incarceration and reentry.
The Idaho Wellness Project grew from that family-led fundraiser into an educational nonprofit. It carries forward the original spirit of S.H.I.F.T. while developing evidence-informed learning opportunities in collaboration with carceral-impacted individuals, families, educators, and community partners.
Our story is still being written. At its heart is the conviction that lived experience must help lead the work—and that education, accountability, belonging, and opportunity can create a path forward.
Mission & vision
The Idaho Wellness Project develops and delivers educational programming that supports personal growth, self-development, and successful transition from incarceration to community life. Through evidence-informed education, participants build the emotional, psychological, and practical skills needed to navigate incarceration, reentry, lifelong learning, and meaningful community engagement.
We envision a future where every person impacted by incarceration has access to educational pathways that foster resilience, personal growth, and opportunity, empowering them to pursue higher education, meaningful employment, community leadership, and lifelong success.
Our five foundational pillars
Knowledge and learning create pathways to lasting change.
Awareness, responsibility, and practice make new choices possible.
Preparation supports the journey from incarceration to community life.
Belonging grows through families, peers, partners, and shared responsibility.
Education can open doors to work, leadership, and lifelong success.
Leadership
Sinéad is the Founder and Executive Director of the Idaho Wellness Project, where she works to transform peer-created ideas and lived experience into accessible, evidence-informed education.
An honours BSW graduate of University College Cork, she combines training in social work with experience in case management, community development, and civic leadership. Her work is grounded in dignity, accountability, and collaboration with carceral-impacted individuals, families, educators, and community partners to build meaningful pathways through incarceration, reentry, and lifelong learning.
Get involved
There is a place in this work for people, institutions, and communities.
Bring educational programming, research, or practical expertise to the work.
Discuss a partnership 02Help fund curriculum development, printing, delivery, and participant access.
Support the work 03Introduce us to educators, funders, reentry leaders, and community partners.
Start a conversationCreated Inside
A future marketplace for original work by carceral-impacted creators—shared with dignity, permission, and fair recognition.
Essays, reflections, poetry, stories, and educational pieces that help people learn and connect.
Original artwork, illustrations, cards, and print-ready designs created inside.
Peer-created exercises, study tools, and practical ideas that may strengthen IWP educational materials.
Families, approved facility contacts, and creators can ask IWP about submission requirements.
Ask about submitting workJoin the interest list while IWP develops a responsible sales and fulfillment process.
Join the purchase interest listThe IWP journal
A shared home for stories from inside, family voices, testimonials, educational reflections, and project news.
How three men created S.H.I.F.T., and how their families carried the idea beyond the walls through a community-led fundraiser.
Full story coming soonGrowth, education, peer leadership, and original work—shared with consent and care.
Reflections from the people who sustain connection, advocacy, and hope across distance.
Practical learning, belonging, employment, and the difficult crossing back into community life.
Support the work
Your support can help transform lived experience into rigorous, accessible learning materials for residents preparing for growth, reentry, and lifelong contribution.
Start a Conversation Online donations will be added when the organization’s giving platform is ready.