About Us
Finding Inspiration in Every Turn
KISRA is a community-driven nonprofit rooted in Dunbar, West Virginia, founded in 1993 by Ferguson Memorial Baptist Church with a powerful mission: to strengthen families across the state, no matter their background or circumstances. What began as a simple desire to help children has flourished into a robust network of programs spanning health, employment, asset development, and learning—what we call HEAL.
Our Services
Offering Programs that Strengthen Individuals and Families in So Many Ways
Through the years, KISRA’s offerings have grown to more than a dozen programs in four divisions: Health, Employment, Asset Development and Learning.
Pathway Academy
Pathway Academy: Reentry and Renewal Program
Pathway Academy is designed to empower individuals involved in reentry and rehabilitation, helping them successfully reintegrate into society after incarceration or involvement with the justice system. The program focuses on providing educational opportunities, life skills training, mentorship, and resources that support personal and professional development.
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CES
KISRA Cares: Community Engagement Specialist (CES) Program
Providing the Caring Support Needed to Thrive. The KISRA Cares CES Program supports adults in Kanawha County who are living with serious mental illness and may also be facing challenges such as substance use, homelessness, or instability. Our role is to meet people where they are, offer compassionate support, and connect them with the resources they need to move toward stability and well-being. ​
PREP
KISRA delivers the state’s Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP), providing teens with reliable, evidence-based information to help them make healthy, informed decisions about relationships, boundaries, and personal safety. Through interactive discussions and skill-building activities, PREP teaches young people how to reduce risks, communicate effectively, and navigate adolescence with confidence and responsibility.
Pathway Academy:
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Pathway Academy focuses on empowering participants to make positive, informed life choices by strengthening self-awareness, emotional regulation, and decision-making skills. Rather than telling learners what to do, the program provides practical tools that help them understand patterns, respond differently to challenges, and take greater ownership of their direction.
The course supports employment readiness and self-sufficiency through lessons on time management, work habits, goal setting, and foundational financial skills. Learners gain tools that prepare them for workplace expectations and everyday responsibilities, both during incarceration and after release.
Pathway Academy also supports rehabilitation and successful reintegration by addressing the personal and emotional skills that often impact reentry outcomes, including stress management, relationships, boundaries, and resilience. By building these skills, the program helps reduce repeated cycles and supports long-term stability.
In addition, the course encourages positive community engagement by helping learners identify healthy support systems, understand civic responsibility, and build connections that contribute to accountability and belonging. Pathway Academy is designed to help participants move forward with clarity, confidence, and purpose.
KISRA Cares-CES:
The Community Engagement Specialist (CES) Program at KISRA Cares is dedicated to reaching people where they are, raising awareness of available supports, and connecting individuals with the resources they need to work toward healthier, more stable lives. Outreach is a core part of the program, and this has included a month-long public service announcement campaign on multiple local radio stations, as well as in-person engagement at community sites such as Kings River Ministries, Orchard Manor, Agsten Manor, the Evolving Journey Women’s and Girls Empowerment Conference, and the Kanawha Day Report Center—ensuring that a broad range of individuals know that support is available and easily accessible.
CES supports people coping with mental health challenges or substance use by offering personalized connection and care coordination. Specialists help individuals access services that match their needs, including prevention and early intervention, crisis support, rehabilitation and skill development, basic necessities such as shelter and transportation assistance, and wellness activities that promote sustained recovery and engagement in life.
The program’s outreach work reflects a belief that no one should have to navigate challenges alone. By actively engaging in local partnerships and community events, CES builds trust, expands awareness of services, and creates pathways for individuals to connect to care that supports their well-being. Success stories include individuals who have maintained long-term sobriety, regained stability in housing, and strengthened their social supports—all with the CES team walking alongside them through the process.
Through this combination of proactive outreach, individualized support, and community collaboration, the CES Program helps ensure that people in need are seen, supported, and encouraged to take meaningful steps toward stability, health, and long-term success.
PREP:
KISRA’s Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) supports adolescents in developing the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to make healthier decisions and plan for their futures. The program focuses on reducing risk related to unplanned pregnancy, HIV, and other sexually transmitted infections while strengthening decision-making, communication, and goal-setting skills that support long-term well-being.
PREP is delivered through structured, skills-based lessons that engage students in real-life scenarios. Rather than relying on lecture-style instruction, the program uses interactive activities, guided discussion, and practical exercises that help participants think ahead, manage peer pressure, and communicate effectively within relationships.
Through partnerships with schools and community-based programs in Kanawha County, PREP reaches youth in supportive learning environments where prevention and education can have the greatest impact. The program contributes to healthier outcomes by helping young people understand choices, recognize consequences, and develop tools that support positive transitions into adulthood.