They deserve more than a parole condition; they deserve a real second chance.

Rooted, A Wholeway House is a non-profit re-entry facility founded by Avery Nelson, LCSW and Jamie Falco, LPC.

As therapists at Giddings State Juvenile Correctional Facility, Avery and Jamie worked with the youth inside the system to grow and heal only to watch them step outside the gates and into adulthood with no guidance, no access to services, and no preparation.

The gap was devastating, and the outcomes were predictable.

We founded Rooted to change that story.

Our Mission

Why Now?

Each year in Texas, youth adjudicated and housed by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) reach age 19, the legal threshold for adulthood, and are transferred to the adult system under the supervision of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) parole. Though they are considered adults in the eyes of the law, many of these young

people are still navigating the transition out of adolescence developmentally, socially, and financially. They have spent their formative years in juvenile institutions, often disconnected from families, financial systems, and real-world responsibilities.

Though they are considered adults in the eyes of the law, many of these young people are still navigating the transition out of adolescence developmentally, socially, and financially. They have spent their formative years in juvenile institutions, often disconnected from families, financial systems, and real-world responsibilities.

Each year in Texas, youth adjudicated and

housed by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) reach age 19, the legal threshold for adulthood, and are transferred to the adult system under the supervision of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) parole. Disconnected from families, financial systems, and real-world responsibilities.

Why Now?

The Current
System

When youth enter TDCJ halfway houses or approved placements, they are placed alongside formerly incarcerated adults who may have served decades in prison and who have had time to prepare for release, save funds, or access reentry programs tailored to adult needs.

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Lacking Basic Support

Without targeted support during this vulnerable period, they face high risks of recidivism, perpetuating cycles of incarceration and instability. These 19-year-olds, by contrast, are expected to function as independent adults without the foundational tools most take for granted: a state ID, a bank account, work experience, or even basic social support.

Financial Disadvantage

Many parole placements require them to pay rent or deposits immediately upon release, without having had a chance to gain employment at costs they cannot afford. Without family support or reentry resources, they face immediate barriers to housing, employment, and stability.

Financial
Disadvantage

Many parole placements require them to pay rent or deposits immediately upon release, without having had a chance to gain employment at costs they cannot afford. Without family support or reentry resources, they face immediate barriers to housing, employment, and stability.

Lacking Basic
Support

Without targeted support during this vulnerable period, they face high risks of recidivism, perpetuating cycles of incarceration and instability. These 19-year-olds, by contrast, are expected to function as independent adults without the foundational tools most take for granted: a state ID, a bank account, work experience, or even basic social support.

The Current
System

When youth enter TDCJ halfway houses or approved placements, they are placed alongside formerly incarcerated adults who may have served decades in prison and who have had time to prepare for release, save funds, or access reentry programs tailored to adult needs.

The Current
System

When youth enter TDCJ halfway houses or approved placements, they are placed alongside formerly incarcerated adults who may have served decades in prison and who have had time to prepare for release, save funds, or access reentry programs tailored to adult needs.

Lacking Basic Support

Without targeted support during this vulnerable period, they face high risks of recidivism, perpetuating cycles of incarceration and instability. These 19-year-olds, by contrast, are expected to function as independent adults without the foundational tools most take for granted: a state ID, a bank account, work experience, or even basic social support.

The Current
System

When youth enter TDCJ halfway houses or approved placements, they are placed alongside formerly incarcerated adults who may have served decades in prison and who have had time to prepare for release, save funds, or access reentry programs tailored to adult needs.

Financial Disadvantage

Many parole placements require them to pay rent or deposits immediately upon release, without having had a chance to gain employment at costs they cannot afford. Without family support or reentry resources, they face immediate barriers to housing, employment, and stability.

Lacking Basic Support

Without targeted support during this vulnerable period, they face high risks of recidivism, perpetuating cycles of incarceration and instability. These 19-year-olds, by contrast, are expected to function as independent adults without the foundational tools most take for granted: a state ID, a bank account, work experience, or even basic social support.

The Solution

How it Works

At Rooted, A Wholeway House, we provide developmentally appropriate residential support for these emerging adults - not yet fully equipped for adult life, but no longer eligible for youth services. We offer wraparound services that meet them where they are: trauma-informed care, financial literacy, housing stability, and mentorship from trusted adults.

Our mission is to ensure these youth don’t fall through the cracks simply because the system doesn’t know where they belong.

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