New Partnership, New Application, New Hope – GTL and Families of the Incarcerated (FOTi) Partner to Offer Guidance and Support
Families and friends left behind when individuals are incarcerated face their own battles, but a new smartphone app will provide better access to resources and community
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Falls Church, Virginia (NewsDirect) – June 24, 2021 – GTL, a trusted partner that connects those affected by incarceration with the resources and support necessary to achieve success, today announced that it has partnered with Families of the Incarcerated (FOTi) to create a new smartphone application that will help families and friends connect with each other and find guidance during a difficult period in their lives.
“Incarceration is traumatic for absolutely everyone touched by it, and as a wife of an incarcerated individual, I know firsthand how few resources are out there to offer support and help to those that need it most,” said Kehaulani Walker, FOTi Founder. “Incarceration does not define who I am or who my husband is, and families and friends need to be reminded of that. They need a community to help them navigate this harrowing journey because support is imperative in making it through to the other side. That is why I created FOTi and have spent the past several years doing everything I can to build a community, to gain trust, and to advocate on behalf of those who feel like they have no voice.”
Mrs. Walker created FOTi more than five years ago, growing it from one social media group to over 36 separate social media support groups and uncountable families and friends across the nation. There are 2,500 families as members of the Washington State support group alone, showing how prolific FOTi support has become. Mrs. Walker is also a member of over 900 prison reform groups, gathering information and providing guidance to those that need it the most.
As the founder of FOTi, Mrs. Walker has joined with GTL to create a smartphone application that will bring all the resources, support, information, and community inside one central repository. The app will offer information on hundreds of facilities across the country, include a forum section for questions and answers, and eventually offer more features that allow users to better connect with others that understand what they are experiencing.
“We often discuss technology as transformational for incarcerated individuals and for correctional facilities, but it is also vital for families and friends that are separated from their loved ones,” said Matthew Caesar, GTL Executive Vice President, Customer Solutions. “Mrs. Walker has done something extraordinary—she has become an advocate for a population she never imagined joining. GTL is thrilled to partner with FOTi to not only build an application whose impact will reverberate across the country but also bring community to the incarceration experience for both incarcerated individuals and their families and friends.”
“What drew me to GTL was their compassion,” continued Mrs. Walker. “They treated me, and our community, with respect. They want to give back and help people through the development of this app. I believe in GTL’s mission and vision, and I believe that by working together, FOTi can become an invaluable resource to the millions of families and friends waiting for their loved ones to return home.”
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About GTL
For over 30 years, GTL has worked side-by-side with correctional facilities and government agencies to provide imperative technology solutions to over 1.2 million incarcerated individuals across the globe. These solutions facilitate meaningful connections, provide educational opportunities, enable successful reentry, and strengthen operational efficiency. GTL is headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, with an employee presence throughout North America and was recognized as a 2021 Top Workplace USA by Energage. To learn more about GTL, please visit www.gtl.net, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
About Families of the Incarcerated (FOTi)
Families of the Incarcerated (FOTi) was created to offer guidance and assistance to families as they navigate the realities of incarceration. Through successful social media platforms, FOTi has built a system of community and support groups that enable families to share their beliefs, concerns, information, and emotions with others that understand their situation.
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